PAUL CORNELIUSSEN

Paul Andreas Corneliussen, 66, passed away on March 21, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, quiet strength, and unwavering devotion to his family. With his sense of humor and steady presence, Paul lived a life marked by kindness, integrity, and empathy for those around him.

He is survived by his “sorority”— his wife of 38 years, Joy, whose partnership and companionship were at the center of his life, and his three daughters, Kirsten (Alex Rosenau), Sara (Elijah Gallaher), and Hanna (Max Acheson), who carry on his memory with laughter and light. Paul also leaves behind his grandson, Anders, who brought him immense pride and joy in his final chapter, and his sister, Mary Ann.

Paul prided himself on the title of “Girl Dad,” going so far as to name the family sailboat “Sorority.” As a family, Paul and his girls spent countless summers sailing the Great Lakes, exploring marinas and beach towns along Michigan’s lakeshore. His favorite story about his daughters detailed what they each would pack for these summer sailing trips. Hanna shared his love of the outdoors and nature with her ever-growing collection of fish flies that she gathered on the deck, Kirsten shared his love of learning with her weighted-down backpack full of books, and Sara shared his love of a laugh, with her scattered collection of magic tricks and joke books.

Paul, alongside his team at French Associates, worked as an Architect for over 40 years, designing community spaces that will be cherished by generations to come. Paul dedicated his career primarily to the design of schools, creating beautiful and safe spaces for children to learn and grow. These buildings, emblematic of his trademark style, will serve as monuments testifying to his life of service and dedication to his community

Paul’s Scandinavian heritage permeated all aspects of his life, from a preference for modern architecture and clean lines, to dancing to ABBA in the living room, to making the office æbelskiver at Christmastime. He was proud to be a Dane, volunteering at the National Nordic Museum's Julefest—an authentic Scandinavian holiday market in Seattle, WA—where he enjoyed educating others on Nordic cuisine, stories, and traditions.

Having recently retired, Paul spent his final chapter of life traveling the globe with Joy. Together, they climbed Mont Blanc in Chamonix, sipped on Mai Tais at tiki bars in Hawaii, drove the Pacific Coast Highway from Carmel to Monterrey, toured Frank Lloyd Wright estates in the deserts of Arizona, and dipped their toes in the Atlantic along Florida’s east coast beaches. His final days were spent on his “second honeymoon,” his wife at his side until his very last moments. He lived his life with such intention and delight that he seemed not to have missed out on anything, despite his premature passing.

In typical Paul fashion, we will be signing off with a limerick, his preferred method of celebration:

There once was a sailor named Paul,
An architect clever and all;
With wit sharp and bright,
And his girls his delight,
A proud Danish Viking standing “tall.”