S. Paul Pao
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S. Paul Pao

  • October 23, 1940 - January 12, 2013
  • Williamsburg, Virginia
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“Uncle Paul and Auntie Juliet are close family friends of ours. I have always considered a blessing to know them, and am deeply grateful for their...Read More » ”
1 of 32 | Posted by: Anna - family friend

“Paul and I worked together as AARP Tax counselors at the Williamsburg library. He was a quiet wise man with a sweet sense of humor. He always gave...Read More » ”
2 of 32 | Posted by: Carolyn Campbell - Williamsburg, VA

“Over the past several years, I worked with Paul as an AARP tax counselor. His smile and demeanor, working with both the clients and his fellow...Read More » ”
3 of 32 | Posted by: frank tillman

“Please know that you and your family are in my prayers, Christine. I am so sorry about your father. ”
4 of 32 | Posted by: Kim Koetz - Peosta, IA

“Dear Juliet: Vijaya and I are saddened at the sudden demise of Paul. I have known Paul for over 20 years and he was one of the most pleasant and...Read More » ”
5 of 32 | Posted by: Jalaiah Unnam - Yorktown, VA

“Dear Juliet, Christine, and Michelle, I am so sorry to hear of Paul's passing. He was truly a genuine and authentic person, and he will be missed...Read More » ”
6 of 32 | Posted by: Kim Phillips - Newport News, VA

“Dear Michelle and family, I wish I had words to give you comfort but in a time like this there are none. Your memories will give you comfort over...Read More » ”
7 of 32 | Posted by: Lori Wilson - Charlotte, NC

“To Juliet and family, I did not know your husband and father, but my thoughts and prayers are with you as you mourn his sudden death. I realize...Read More » ”
8 of 32 | Posted by: Ann Manciagli - Williamsburg, VA

“Juliet, Christine, and Michelle, Paul was the most pleasant and friendly person that we know. It was a privilege and a joy to have known him as a...Read More » ”
9 of 32 | Posted by: Don Tow - Middletown, NJ - Friend

“Victor and I are so devastated by the sad news of uncle Paul’s passing. Auntie Juliet’s family and Victor’s family have been friends for...Read More » ”
10 of 32 | Posted by: Reiko Liu - Midlothian, VA

“Paul Pao was truly a shining light. Although it is well-known that he was a great computational fluid dynamics researcher and aeroacoustics technical...Read More » ”
11 of 32 | Posted by: Chris Rumsey - Newport News, VA

“Few can accomplish in a life time what Paul has managed to. He is truly a renaissance man! : As a renowned NASA research scientist, he specialized...Read More » ”
12 of 32 | Posted by: Dominic & Eva Cheung - VA

“Paul was the best. As a researcher, he had a rare combination of wisdom and youthful energy that made him seem ageless to me. It didn't matter if...Read More » ”
13 of 32 | Posted by: Craig Hunter - Williamsburg, VA

“Dearest Juliet, Christine and Michelle, Our love for Paul has no bounds. We will forever remember him for his devotion to God, his endless love...Read More » ”
14 of 32 | Posted by: Khaled Abdol-Hamid - Yprktown, VA

“I met Paul 20 months ago when we both joined as fellow members of our Community Emergency Response Team. His enthusiasm and smile were contagious,...Read More » ”
15 of 32 | Posted by: Jeff Lovejoy - Williamsburg, VA

“Dear Pao Family, I met Mr. Pao at a PCAA event where we spoke about college and future plans. Mr. Pao struck me as a very kind and gentle man,...Read More » ”
16 of 32 | Posted by: Allison Mui

“Laura and I were so sad to hear of Mr. Pao's passing. I know I'm now old enough to say "Paul", but as I first met the Pao family nearly forty years...Read More » ”
17 of 32 | Posted by: Steven and Laura Maestrello - VA

“We have known Paul for forty years since he came to NASA. Paul was a true gentleman full of energy, wisdom, love and compassion. He has lived a life...Read More » ”
18 of 32 | Posted by: Grace & Chen-Huei Liu - VA

“Our junior year in college was the toughest one, demanding a lot of hard hard work. We all labored over tough home work, hardly had any leisure time...Read More » ”
19 of 32 | Posted by: Wen-Huei Jou - Seattle, WA

“Paul was an integral part of the Maestrello family. Many years ago working with Lucio at Nasa, Paul and his family were introduced to ours. He and...Read More » ”
20 of 32 | Posted by: Margherita deMoya Maestrello - FL

“Paul was a fine gentleman, a really nice person and a wonderful neighbor who took great pride in his manicured yard and landscaping. He was...Read More » ”
21 of 32 | Posted by: George Cook - williamsburg , VA

“Dear family of Christine, I love the picture of Paul. The smile says it all. Christine is a beloved member of my monastery association and I join...Read More » ”
22 of 32 | Posted by: Connie May - Cedar Rapids, IA

“Dearest Juliet, Michelle and Christine, The world could not have known a kinder man. I feel so blessed that Paul touched my life. Please know...Read More » ”
23 of 32 | Posted by: Pam Hunter - Southern Pines, NC

“Christine - There are no words adequate when we lose a loved one, especially a parent. I hope that you may find some comfort in the memories of love...Read More » ”
24 of 32 | Posted by: Teresa McMahon - IA

“So sorry to hear. Paul was an amazing, warm, wise person. We think of those times so many years ago when we were all young and close and working...Read More » ”
25 of 32 | Posted by: Ann and Jan Carlson - co-workers

“Juliet and family, I still smile when I think of the time we spent back in 2010. I want to send a short prayer to you and your family... Dear...Read More » ”
26 of 32 | Posted by: Calvin Mackey - Chesapeake, VA

“Dear Pao Family, Mr. Pao was an incredible individual. I remember meeting him at every PCAA event. He always brightened the room with his smile...Read More » ”
27 of 32 | Posted by: Eric Wong

“Dear Juliet, Christine, Michelle and Family: Hsiang and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Paul. We would like to express our heartfelt...Read More » ”
28 of 32 | Posted by: Elizabeth S. Tai - Yorktown, VA

“Dear Juliet, Christine, and Michelle On behalf of all the members of the AMA family, our heartfelt condolences. Although some of us got to know...Read More » ”
29 of 32 | Posted by: Renji Kumar - Hampton, VA

Configuration Aerodynamics Branch, NASA Langley Research Center (Circa 2005) “Dear Juliet, Christine, Michelle and family, On behalf of the entire Configuration Aerodynamics Branch family, I would like to express our...Read More » ”
30 of 32 | Posted by: Zac Applin (from the Configuration Aerodynamics Branch) - VA

“Paul was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and friend to so many. Our whole family's thoughts and prayers are with Juliet and the Pao Family...Read More » ”
31 of 32 | Posted by: Chris Maestrello - Midlothian, VA

“Dear Juliet, Christine, Michelle and family, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am. Paul was an incredible man, with an incredible smile....Read More » ”
32 of 32 | Posted by: Gayle Burton - Suffolk, VA


  • S. Paul Pao - beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend
  • Uncle Paul, you have played such a special role in our family's lives. We love you so much. Love always, Andrew, Abi, Jordan and Noah

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S. Paul Pao, 72, of Williamsburg, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, entered eternal life on Saturday, January 12, 2013 following a brief illness. He was a man of great enthusiasm, generosity, and love, and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Paul was born on October 23, 1940 to Kin Yee Pao and Yuk Shu Yeung in Lanzhou, China and grew up in Macao, the third of four brothers and one sister. He came to the United States in 1961 for his Ph.D. It was there that he met his lifelong love, Juliet Zue, in 1962 and shared 50 years of happiness with her. They married in 1966, and he was devoted in loving and caring for Juliet and their two daughters, Christine and Michelle. He was a dedicated son, brother, and uncle, and loved Juliet's extended family as his own. He was so delighted to welcome Kelly Hunter to the family as Michelle's husband in 2005, and his love for his granddaughters Mirabella and Milena brought him unparalleled joy.

Paul attended National Taiwan University, receiving a B.S. in Civil Engineering, and received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Florida. He began his engineering career in Huntsville, Alabama in 1967, working on the Saturn V rocket at Wyle Laboratories and teaching at the University of Alabama. In 1973, he came to NASA Langley Research Center, working as a researcher and manager in aeroacoustics and computational fluid dynamics until his retirement in 2010. He authored more than 50 publications and was awarded the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal among many other awards. He loved his work and colleagues, and he especially enjoyed mentoring the next generation of aeronautical engineers.

Paul had many interests besides work and family. He loved photography, art, woodworking, and reading. He was a lifelong runner and spent many years as a practitioner and instructor of karate. He was a man of simple faith in God, a Catholic who honored the diverse faith traditions of his family and friends, and was active in the church and community.

Paul is survived by his wife, daughters, and granddaughters, his older brother, Wei-Kang Pao of Hong Kong, and his younger brother, Dr. Frank S. C. Pao of Taipei, Taiwan.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Friday, January 18 at Nelsen Funeral Home in Williamsburg, VA. On Saturday, January 19, a Mass in celebration of his life will be held at St. Bede Roman Catholic Church in Williamsburg, VA at 11:00 am. Donations in Paul's memory may be made to the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula at hrfoodbank.org.