Paul D. Eland, of Monroe Township, NJ, passed away on February 19, 2024 at the age of 98.
Paul was born in 1925 in Ulm, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany, and grew up in Laupheim Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany. The family owned a haberdashery store there which they were forced to sell by ever-worsening conditions for Jews in Germany.
As a result of rising anti-semitism, the family left Germany in 1936 and emigrated to New York City. Paul spent the rest of his childhood in Brooklyn and Jamaica Queens, NY. After graduating from Stuyvesant High School in NY in 1943, he attended City College of New York before joining the US Army (Signal Corp.) From 1946 through 1947 he returned to Germany in uniform, stationed in Ansbach.
Following his military service, he resumed his studies at City College of New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, graduating in 1948/49. He went on to obtain a Masters in Electrical Engineering from CCNY in 1960.
Paul worked in the Aeronautical Defense industry his entire career, mostly as a systems engineer at Kearfott/General Precision/Singer Kearfott in Passaic County, NJ.
He married Lillian Paver in 1954 in NYC. They honeymooned in San Francisco, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Crater Lake National Park. The couple moved to Dumont, NJ in 1955 and in 1956 they welcomed their son, Richard.
Paul retired in 1999 and he and Lillian moved to West Windsor (Princeton Junction), NJ to be closer to family.
Lillian passed away in 2007, and ten years later Paul moved to Meadow Lakes Retirement Community in East Windsor, where he had many friends.
Paul had a passion for the Outdoors – especially camping – the Environment, Gardening, and Classical Music. He was a former Master Gardener of Mercer County through Rutgers Master Gardners of Mercer County and was a founding member of West Windsor Community Gardens. He was also a former longtime member of Lions Club International, both in Dumont, NJ and West Windsor, NJ
Paul is remembered as a person who was kind, caring, gentle and analytical.
Paul was predeceased by his wife, Lillian Eland, and his sister, Nanette Hadley (nee Einstein.)
He is survived by his son, Richard L. Eland (Holly Singer-Eland); grandchildren Ariel Lynn Eland (fiancé Whitney Purvis) and Jeremy Minh Dao Eland; Nephews Evan Hadley (Margaret) and Julian Hadley.
He is also survived by Lillian’s sister-in-law Helen Paver, nieces Fran Paver (Karl Held) and Stacey Paver Simon (David). He is also predeceased by a brother-in-law, Daniel Paver, a sister-in-law, Naomi Myles who had two daughters, the late Jeanne Eger and the late Elizabeth Raikes.
Funeral services and burial (private) are Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 1:30PM at Beth El Cemetery, Paramus, NJ.
Shiva will be observed on Thursday, February 22, and Saturday, February 24 from 6:00pm-8:00pm, with a shiva minyan at 7:00pm, at the home of Richard Eland and Holly Singer-Eland in East Windsor.
Memorial contributions may be made to
Paul was a great guy who will be sorely missed. He leaves behind a stong legacy with Rich and Holly and his grandchildren Ariel and Jeremy. He had many interests, including space as he played a part in it working at Singer Kearfott. I recall him explaining to me a number of times, because I did not get it, how gyroscopes work and how man was able to travel to the moon. He (and Rich) were avid skiers and, if I recall correctly, Lillian was a skiing nurse in WWII. RIP.
We knew Paul for many years through his son Richard and found him to be an interesting and inquisitive man who was also concerned about the greater good in the world.
He was loved by his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all.
I first met Paul as a master gardener. He knew so much. At Meadow Lakes, he decided to identify all the indoor plants that we had scattered around the buildings.
He had many good conversations about music, with my friend Lillian Blatt, who was a musician and teacher.
He was good company and I will miss him.
I met Paul while I was working at Village Grande at Bear Creek in W. Windsor, NJ. He was a caring, kind and compassionate man. He would sometimes come into my office to say hello. I will keep him in my prayers as I think of him often.
I knew Paul from his volunteer work in politics and through his son Richard. He was kind, thoughtful, respectful and earnest. I noticed he would always stand when he spoke even in informal gatherings. I consider that simple act as brave, respectful, and committed. I learned later that he developed the discipline of standing to speak through Toastmasters. He was an inspiration to me and I will miss him.