In memoriam: Paul Glenn, 1921 - 2011

Paul Glenn, artist, educator and world traveler, died at home on Friday night, Feb. 25, in the care of his family.

He is survived by his second wife Kathy Cody, his son Michael Glenn, his daughter Laurie Glenn Rice, his stepson Michael (wife Betsy) Cody, and his grandchildren Connor Glenn, Kaiya Rice, and Russell and Vivian Cody. He was preceded in death by his parents Tom and Cecile Glenn, his first wife Peggy Glenn, his brother Tom Glenn, Tom's wife Caroline, and their daughter Paula. He is also survived by his sister Doreen, his niece Merilee and her family, and his nephew Tyler and his family.

Paul was born in Seattle on July 31, 1921, and raised in Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Bellingham, where he graduated from Bellingham High School and Western Washington University. He held graduate degrees from the University of Washington and Stanford University.

He was in the Navy during World War II, serving as a navigation officer in the Pacific Theater. Later, he studied at the Art Students League in New York City. He met his first wife, Peggy, on the tennis courts at Stanford, and together they traveled the world, living and teaching in Ceylon, Aix-En-Provence, where their son Michael was born, and Rome, Italy, where their daughter Laurie was born.

Paul taught middle school and high school in California and was the head of the Art Department at Fairhaven College at WWU for more than 20 years. He was well known for his classes in Oriental art and culture and in Jungian psychology. He enjoyed exploring the new science of the times and was particularly interested in chaos theory.

Paul was an accomplished artist who started out working in oils; later, he made the paper for his paintings in which he combined Ibru and silk screen to create stunning micro/macro images of water and shoreline. He is also remembered as a wonderful storyteller with a playful sense of humor.

In 1989, Paul met his second wife, Kathy, with whom he continued his world travels to England, Portugal, Italy and Mexico. They settled in Paul's home in Bellingham and spent a lot of time in the San Juan Islands at a place very special to Paul. Paul was greatly loved by his family, his friends and the many students whose lives he touched.

The family is very grateful to Hospice of Whatcom County for making it possible for Paul to spend his final days at home. There will be a picnic celebration of Paul's life at Lake Padden on Sunday, June 19.