Paul S. Lewandowski

Paul S. Lewandowski passed away on December 15th after a long battle with cancer. He was born on August 29, 1956, to John and Jean (Westrick) Lewandowski in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. He grew up in the Detroit suburbs and graduated from Mt. Clemens High School before getting his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Michigan. He went on to graduate cum laude from Georgetown University Law School, becoming an environmental lawyer in Detroit and then in Toledo, where he worked at Owens Corning for nearly 25 years.

Paul met his loving wife, Gail Heath, in 1975 as sophomores at U of M. They spent the next 50 years together, navigating life's triumphs and hardships, raising a beautiful family, and genuinely enjoying each other's company every day.

Paul was an avid sports fan his entire life, playing baseball, football, and swimming throughout his childhood, picking up a love of golf and squash later in life. He loved the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, and all U of M teams, especially the football team. Paul became well known in the last decade and a half for his rousing toasts before Wolverine football games at the tailgate location known as “The Little Big House”.

He had a great love for the outdoors and enjoyed taking backcountry canoe camping trips to Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada, first with his brother and then later with his wife and sons. He always made sure to keep track of all the wildlife they would see along the way.

Later in life, Paul developed quite the green thumb, growing all kinds of vegetables and herbs, keeping the family oversupplied with fresh produce. “Farmer Paul” managed to continue his garden this past year, even as he was going through treatment.

He is survived by his wife, Gail, and two sons, John (Emily) and Michael, his father, John Lewandowski, brother James Lewandowski (Marybeth Ruth), sister Kaye Hooks (Stuart), and brothers-in-law Kevin Heath (TT) and Hans Erni, as well as many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Jean, and his sister Mary.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations in honor of Paul can be made to the American Brain Tumor Research Association or the University of Michigan Brain Tumor Research Fund.

Friends may call to celebrate Paul’s life at Walker Funeral, 5155 W. Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, OH 43623. Visitation will be held from 4-8 PM on Friday, December 19th, and 11 AM-1 PM on Saturday, December 20th, with a Memorial Service to follow at 1 PM.