Paul Charles Soper was a kind man. A man of unmeasured humor, creativity and gentleness. He moved through the world with a sense of childlike wonder and amazement that would stop him in his tracks to admire a leaf with the same intensity that one might examine fine art. Anyone who had the privilege to know him, even in the briefest of encounters would be gifted with the same warmth that would be afforded an old friend. Paul’s life and how he lived it will be a constant reminder for those he left behind to lead with kindness and an open mind. And of course, to never let a good pun pass them by.
Paul was born in Elgin, Illinois on February 27th, 1947 to Helene Blake Soper and Neil Charles Soper. He was an active Boy Scout at Camp Crosley, the camp that his parents helped run. He attended Burris High School, and would go on to maintain close friendships with some of his classmates until his final days. Growing up in the midwest is no doubt where Paul learned to seamlessly integrate words such as “neat,” “golly,” and “gee” into his vocabulary.
He attended Albion College for a year before transferring to Chico State in California, where he graduated with a BA in Biology in 1969. After graduation he worked as a teacher in the Chico area before “retiring,” as he called it. In his “retirement” he lived on land with some friends where they had horses, lived simply, and grew beards. This facial hair choice confused his midwestern mother greatly, who asked if growing the beard was because he was in a play.
Always a man of conviction, Paul was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War and completed his Alternative Service in San Francisco at Joshua House. It was there that he helped counsel runaway teens, and those who were struggling with bad acid trips. He would tell of one time in particular when a Veteran who had taken acid believed he was back in Vietnam. Paul jumped into action by acting as if he and the soldier were both in combat. In doing so, he guided the soldier safely into the house where he could receive the support he needed.
Upon finishing his service, he began an adventure that would shape the rest of his life. He started working on the commercial fishing boats The Sea Quail and Point Omega in the Bering Sea, off the coast of Alaska. In 1976, after learning all that he could, he set out to captain his own boat. He bought The Tidings, which he used to fish for tanner and king crab around Kodiak Island, and spent his summers salmon tendering in Uganik Bay. It was around this time that he met his first wife Monica Miller who later worked on The Tidings side by side with him.
In 1982 his daughter Alisha was born and a year later, the family moved to Seattle. Once in Washington, he would go on to earn a Masters degree in Psychology from Seattle University. In 1986, he held his 4 year-old daughter’s hand as he walked across the stage to receive his diploma. They would continue to treasure a close relationship, holding each other’s hands throughout life’s transitions including his final journey with cancer.
Paul would utilize his new degree as a Geriatrics Counselor. The friends he made in this community would remain friends for life, enjoying summer family softball games and winter getaways to a lodge in Snoqualmie Pass.
Paul returned to his roots in the fishing industry in 1990, and began what would be a long career with Trident Seafoods. He worked as Project Coordinator, Production Support/Recruiter, and as Assistant Vessel Manager, a position he held until his retirement in 2014. His presence inspired those he worked with to infuse friendship into their jobs. He always found time to walk the shores of Alaska where he would pick up special rocks or treasures to give to his coworkers.
In 2001 he met his second wife, Maria Clarisa Rendon Lugo, and they began a rich life together traveling from Seattle to Mexico. Paul was welcomed into Clarisa’s family with open arms and built deep connections with her friends and family.
Paul was a true Renaissance man whose talents and interests included Taoism, philosophy, psychology, fishing, designing and building his own furniture, and visual art. He was a consummate student of life. He was inspired by the simultaneous complexity and simplicity that exists in nature. He drew inspiration from crows and used them as his subject for most of his chalk pastel artwork. During the pandemic, he baked biscotti to feed squirrels off his balcony. He practiced mindfulness even on his hardest days in his battle with pancreatic cancer. And on those days, he found great comfort in the words of the serenity prayer. May the words that comforted him also comfort those who grieve his loss, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Paul is survived by his daughter Alisha, wife Clarisa, and older brother Blake. Memorial services to be held at a later date.
Donations can be made in Paul’s name to:
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
https://www.pancan.org/
Fisherman’s Memorial
https://www.seattlefishermensmemorial.org/
Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council
https://www.shorelakearts.org/