Paul A. Corey

Paul A. Corey, age 87, of Columbus, OH passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on Wednesday, December 11, 2013, after a brief illness. Born August 16, 1926 in Youngstown, OH to the late Phillip and Effie Abraham. On June 16, 1951 he married Marie Antoinette Cercek, who passed away May 17, 2012. Survived by children, Denis P. Corey of Columbus, Janet C. (Jeffrey) Hawk of Lima, David P. (Kimberly) Corey of Columbus; grandchildren, Matthew, Mark, Logan, and Ashton; half-brother, Timothy Abraham of NYC, NY; many nieces and nephews. Upon graduation from the University of Notre Dame in 1949, he moved to Cleveland where he taught in the Cleveland School System and served as President of the Cleveland Teachers Union. During this time he also earned his Master's degree from Case Western Reserve University. In 1961, he was appointed Executive Assistant and Clerk of the Board for the Cuyahoga County Commissioners. In 1971, he permanently relocated to Columbus when he was appointed Director, Ohio Department of State Personnel. In 1973, he became the first civilian ever chosen by the President of the United States to serve as Director of the Ohio Selective Service System. In 1975, he left government service and established PACA, Inc., a firm specializing in government relations and association management. In 1976, he was appointed Vice President and Director of Marketing for Euthenics, Inc., and in 1985, he was appointed to the Ohio Expositions Commission & State Fair where he served for 17 years. A few organizations and some awards he received: St. Jude-ALSAC Human Relations Award; Greater Cleveland Knights of Columbus Catholic Man of the Year; National Selective Service System Exceptional Service Medal; International Personnel Management Association's Man of the Year; National Paraplegia Foundation; National President, American-Lebanese League; and Salute to Statue of Liberty (Ohio Advisory); Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame; Ohio Fair Managers Association Outstanding Fair Supporter. He was struck with polio at the age of one and had numerous surgeries, including one of the first successful muscle transplants in the world at the age of 7. Despite being told he would never walk, he won that fight and only used a wheelchair at age 86. Throughout his life, his deep faith and positive outlook in the face of all obstacles were an inspiration to his family, friends and the hundreds of individuals he worked and came into contact with throughout his life, including 11 Governors and five Presidents - Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Carter and H. W. Bush, and world leaders (Menachem Begin, former Prime Minister of Israel & Anwar Sadat, former President of Egypt) to coordinate a Red Cross ship to assist the people of Lebanon during the heart of the 1970’s Middle East conflict. . Friends may call 12 Noon-2 PM and 5-8 PM Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Rutherford-Corbin Funeral Home, 515 High St., Worthington, OH. Mass of Christian Burial 10 AM Wednesday at St. Peter Catholic Church, 6899 Smoky Row Road, Columbus, OH. Msgr. John Johnson, Celebrant. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers Masses or memorial contributions to the Paul A. Corey Scholarship Fund, 3757 Indianola Ave., Columbus, OH 43214 or to a charity of the donor's choosing in Paul’s memory. Entombment Resurrection Cemetery. Please visit www.rutherfordfuneralhome.com to send on-line condolences.