A Tribute to Paul Ornstein

Abstract

I should like to begin with a story. It is a story that so captures my admiration of Paul Ornstein that it has remained in my mind up to and including the room we were in when it happened, despite all the years that have intervened since it happened. We were on vacation in France with the Ornsteins and were planning the next day’s activities which we hoped would include a visit to the Leger museum. I had spread a map of the region out on a table and sadly announced that a direct road to our destination was not available, and so we would need to take a very roundabout route. We could get close but not quite there on the more direct road. I showed the map to Paul, and I was able to pinpoint the lack of closer access. Paul stood up, pointed to the missing road and announced: “If you will get us close, I will get us there.” His sense of conviction and determination seemed to overrule the lack of a highway, and I was both struck by his lack of sense along with his steadfast sureness. He seemed at once to embody a host of “self” words ranging from self-determination to self-righteousness to something akin to bravery. Earlier he had told us of his life in Nazi Germany wherein all of these abilities were on display and essentially kept him alive. Of course Paul has many qualities that make him loveable, but he also possesses a few that are both rare and admirable. I think these are best described as those of “inner strength.” This strength allows him to be without jealousy or rancor, easily able to acknowledge the contributions of others and most happily to remain a loyal friend. Those of us who may not match Paul in such an array of strength can easily and lastingly admire such a collection that Paul embodies.