Paul Frederick Du Mont, 80, formerly of Boston Heights OH, passed away peacefully on Saturday November 19, 2022 surrounded by family at his home in Frederick MD, after a long struggle with the neurodegenerative disorder Multiple System Atrophy. His kindness, generosity, and love of storytelling will long be remembered.
He was born on February 21, 1942 in Englewood, New Jersey, to the late Paul Joseph Du Mont and Elsa Carlson. For over 55 years, he was a loving husband to Rosemary Ruhig Du Mont, with whom he raised three children: Malia, Erik, and Matthew. He cherished being grandfather to Jay, Daona, and Noa and father-in-law to Adrienne and Sarah. In addition, he counted exchange students from around the world among his children.
Paul earned his undergraduate degree in industrial engineering from Northwestern University (where he met Rosemary), his MBA from University of Hawaii, and his DBA from University of Kentucky. With his wife, he co-authored articles about organizational effectiveness. He had a long career as professor of business administration at institutions of higher education around the country - including Eastern Kentucky University, University of Oklahoma, North Texas State University, and Kent State University - before moving to Walsh University in North Canton OH where he directed the graduate arts in management program and was beloved by his students, to whom he was devoted. Paul was dedicated to the Walsh community, serving as president of the Faculty Senate for several years. He retired from teaching after 20 years of service to the university.
Paul loved traveling with his family, annually organizing long camping trips that featured visits to many national parks. As their children grew older, he and Rosemary expanded their travels to include overseas destinations in Europe and Asia, and in retirement they added cruises to their repertoire. Paul grew up on an island in New Jersey and retained a love of sailing throughout his life. He and Rosemary celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2017 with close friends and family on a sailboat in the Chesapeake, with Paul bedecked in one of the Hawaiian shirts he wore regularly since their years as newlyweds in Honolulu. Paul also loved skiing, which he continued doing into his 70's. Theater was also important to him; he served as president of the board of Actors' Summit Theater in Ohio for several years, and was an avid member of the audience at Maryland Ensemble Theater, which now has additional wheelchair seating in his name.
Throughout his life, Paul was driven by the conviction that helping others was the purpose of his life. Beyond his immediate family, he felt himself to be part of the family of humankind, and was deeply moved by injustice, hunger, and poverty. He donated time, effort, money, and resources to organizations focused on alleviating suffering, and found great satisfaction in volunteering at food banks in Ohio and Maryland. He was active in his church (Christ Church in Hudson OH and Church of the Transfiguration in Frederick MD).
A service of remembrance will be held at Church of the Transfiguration, 6909 Maryland Avenue, Frederick, at 7PM on December 30. Friends are invited to share their remembrances of Paul in person, or to send a note to be read at the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Maryland Food Bank. The family is also planning a private celebration of his life next summer at a place he most wanted to visit: Glacier National Park in Montana.
Back