Paul Gerhold Jr

Paul Gerhold, Jr., engineer and ceramicist, died peacefully on Thursday, December 15th after a brief illness. Born in New York City in 1947, Paul grew up in Larchmont, NY and spent his summers on the North Shore of Long Island clamming, fishing and sailing around Peconic Bay while working various summer jobs including lifeguarding and operating an ice cream truck. Here he discovered a love of the sea and nature that endured through his life Paul attended the University of Rochester where he earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. After graduation he worked as a chemical engineer with DuPont and, later, General Foods, where he eventually became the plant manager for its Maxwell House coffee division in Hoboken, New Jersey. He also developed an interest in jewelry making and ceramics. While in Jacksonville with General Foods, he met his future wife and artistic partner Claudette Allen OBrien. Married in April of 1984 they combined a happy marriage with a unique and productive artistic partnership until Claudette’s death on June 25th, 2019. Together they created a unique style of raku, characterized by monumental vases thrown by Paul, decorated with Claudette’s beautifully elaborate geometric designs in Paul’s unique metallic glazes. Some of their happiest times were spent traveling around the country displaying and selling their work at various juried art shows. After Claudette’s death, Paul continued working with ceramics, creating sculptured pieces and unique glaze combinations and designs for wall plaques, while enjoying the sandhill cranes, raccoons and occasional bear visiting his forested preserve in Lady Lake, Florida. He leaves behind brothers Tim and Mark, sisters-in-law Annie and Carolyn, nieces and nephews Abby, Kristin, Corinne, and Robbie, grandnieces and grandnephews Elodie, William, Dashawn and Kaydee, stepsons Allen and Doug O’Brien, step daughters-in-law Melanie O’Brien and Linda O’Brien, grandsons Quinn and Beau, and partner Gillian Royes. A memorial service will be held for Paul at Beyer’s Funeral Home, 134 N US Highway 441, Lady Lake, FL 32159 on Wednesday, January 18th at 2 pm.

Paul Gerhold Jr

August 4, 1947 - December 16, 2022