Paul & Eileen Gaston | Education in Action

By Kaye Lowe

Meet Paul and Eileen Gaston, a quiet, unassuming couple that has not let grass grow under their feet, though retired.

Paul and Eileen met on a blind date in 1963, while they were attending

Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. She was studying to be a teacher; Paul was an English major. They continued to date while Paul earned his master’s degree at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville in 1966. Subsequently, he worked on his Ph.D. in English. While Paul continued working on his advanced degrees, Eileen lived in New Orleans, teaching sixth grade.

After a five-year courtship, they married in 1968. It was worthwhile waiting, as they enjoyed a six-week honeymoon in Oxford, England, where Paul had a seminar at Exeter College. They returned to Charlottesville with Paul working on his dissertation for his Ph.D. and Eileen returning to teaching.

Paul’s career took them to several states: Illinois, Tennessee, Northern Kentucky, and finally, Ohio.

Paul pursued positions in higher education at several universities. Eileen continued to teach elementary grades.

They first lived in Edwardsville, Illinois, from 1969-1988 as Paul taught English and was a part-time administrator at Southern Illinois University. Eileen taught sixth grade. She earned her Master’s in Elementary Education at SIU. While in Edwardsville, their children were born: a daughter, Beth, in 1974, and a son, Tyler, in 1980.

During their time in Illinois, Paul began to explore becoming a deacon in the Episcopal Church, preaching and reading many assigned books.

Paul‘s career continued, as he became Dean of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1988; Eileen continued to teach sixth grade. After many years of study, Paul became a deacon in the Episcopal Church in 1990.

They moved in 1993 to Kentucky, where Paul became Provost (Executive Vice President) of Northern Kentucky University. Eileen continued her career in education, teaching fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade children in a gifted program. She completed a Certification in Teaching Gifted Students.

From Kentucky, the family moved to Hudson, Ohio in 1999; Paul became provost at Kent State University and Eileen was a gifted intervention specialist, working with teachers and gifted students for grades four and five in Mayfield. Unfortunately, Paul and Eileen’s son, Tyler, died in a train accident in 2004, while a senior at Kent State University. The family has set up an endowment in his name at the Kent State Library and Wick Poetry Center.

Paul retired as Provost in 2007 but continued as a trustee and professor at Kent State University. He taught graduate classes in English Literature and Higher Education. He is a Consultant for the Lumina Foundation. He makes presentations at universities throughout the U.S. about higher education reform.

Paul became an ordained Episcopal priest in 2010, serving in various capacities at several churches in the greater Cleveland area. He was intern rector at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Canton and was Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland. Today, he is an assisting priest at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Akron.

Paul is a prolific writer of published books and articles about higher education and Ohio's craft beers.

In his spare time, Paul has written four books that have been published. His first, “The Challenge of Bologna,” was written in 2010. It deals with “What U.S. Higher Education Has To Learn From Europe and Why It Matters That We Have To Learn It.”

In 2014, he wrote “Higher Education Accreditation.” It deals with how accreditation is changing.

Long before craft beers were talked about in Ohio, Paul decided to write about Ohio’s breweries. In 2016, he spent a year visiting Ohio craft breweries, discovering the variety and quality of craft beers. He would visit three breweries per day and spend over two hours at each. His book is titled “Ohio Craft Beers.” Paul really enjoyed writing this book!

His daughter, Beth said, “A professor, consultant, priest, and author walks into a bar; and they are all my Dad.”

Last year, Paul wrote “Credentials,” which deals with understanding problems, identifying opportunities and rebuilding public support for education. It offers ways universities can serve the public in a creative way and offer solutions to problems. All of Paul’s books are in print and can be purchased on Amazon. He continues to write articles and books about higher education topics.

I asked Paul how he has time for all he has done and is doing. He quoted Thomas Jefferson: “It is amazing what can be done if you are always doing!” He has this quote framed in his office.

Through their 55 years of marriage, Eileen has been a supportive wife, moving from state to state, creating a loving, warm home for her family and establishing them in new communities. She has taught for 45 years in six states!

Retirement in 2014 has not slowed Eileen down; even though she fell off a short ladder in 2014 and smashed the tibia plateau of her knee, and broke an elbow. She was in rehab for 10 weeks and is fortunate to be able to walk and exercise. Because of her injury, Paul and Eileen decided to move to a smaller home than their house in Hudson. They had visited several friends in Walden. Its peaceful, wooded area and ambiance drew them in. They purchased a singlefamily home in Ravines West.

During Covid-19, they found the house a perfect place to ride out the pandemic. Eileen and Paul enjoyed watching the wildlife and birds in their forested back yard, as well as their cats, Scout and Binx! It was and is a perfect oasis. Those two years gave them time to pursue their hobbies, taking long walks, reading their favorite authors, listening to music, and Paul painting and doing calligraphy and continuing to write.

Both are lovers of classical music and frequent concerts of the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall and the Blossom Music Center. They have a baby grand piano that Paul inherited from his family, which they both play.

Eileen loves to recreate recipes of Creole and Cajun foods from her New Orleans roots. She has a brother and sister living there as well as countless relatives. If you are invited to her home at Mardi Gras, you will find a brightly decorated great room and receive colorful beads. Eileen is an excellent cook. You might be offered her shrimp etouffee, red beans & rice, pralines, or bread pudding. (I have had the pleasure – YUM!)

Eileen is an avid reader. She is in two book clubs that meet monthly. One is in-person with her retired Mayfield teachers and her Church’s Word And Wisdom Group is on Zoom. Her favorite authors are Barbara Kingsolver, an environmental historical novelist; Lee Smith, a Southern writer; Donna Leon, a mystery writer; and Madeleine

L’Engle, a religious and deep novelist. Her accident taught her the importance of exercise and she does aqua aerobics and daily exercise videos.

Eileen serves Christ Episcopal Church in Hudson in many capacities. She was on the vestry, sings in their choir, is chair for funeral receptions, is their knitting group coordinator, VBS teacher, outreach committee volunteer, and Lay Eucharistic Visitor. If something or someone needs something done, Eileen is the first person to offer help!

When they have time, Eileen and Paul enjoy traveling. They have taken several cruises, and have a second Atlantic crossing planned for September. They have traveled extensively in Europe and the United States, but especially love visiting their many Louisiana relatives and their daughter and son-in-law in Chicago. Beth works in financial services marketing and her husband, Ryan, works in human resources for a specialty insurance company.

Paul and Eileen, in their quiet way, make each day count. They continue to give of themselves, daily. Certainly, they live by Thomas Jefferson’s quote, “It’s amazing what can be done, if you are always doing!”