Paul D. Olexia
July 31, 1939 – April 1, 2025
A celebration of Paul’s life will be held Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. at the Glen Vista Gallery in the Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, where food, drink and stories will be shared. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his memory may be made to any of the the following organizations: Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones, southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo College or Wabash College, in c/o the funeral home.
Obituary
Paul D. Olexia was born July 31, 1939, in McKeesport, Pa, the son of Paul and Gladys Olexia. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Gary Olexia and his daughter, Julie. Surviving are his wife Sally Olexia and their son Michael and his wife Deanna. Also surviving is Deborah (Olexia) Stilley, his daughter from a previous marriage and her family.
Paul grew up in western Pennsylvania and graduated from Clairton (Pa) High School. He received his B.A. degree from Wabash College where he majored in zoology and played varsity football. He received his M.A. degree from the St. University of New York at Buffalo and went on to get his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee in Botany (mycology), working under Dr. Ronald Petersen with whom he maintained a life-long friendship.
Upon completion of doctorate, he served a one-year appointment as a sabbatical replacement at Colgate University. Subsequently, he took a teaching position at Kalamazoo College in 1968 where he taught until retirement in 2002. His primary courses were Botany, Evolution and Environmental Science along with occasional courses in Freshwater Ecology, Plant Ecology, Mycology, and Plant and Animal Diversity. He served as Chair of the Biology Dept. and subsequently as Chair of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. During his time at K College, he collaborated with researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Argonne National labs, and the University of Rhode Island. His main area of research interest was mycorrhizal fungi which grow mutualistically with the roots of most plant species. While at Kalamazoo College he collaborated with his good friend Ahmed Hussen, initiating an interdisciplinary Concentration in Environmental Studies. He was an initial faculty leader for the Land/Sea Program. Additionally, he enjoyed assisting with announcing football games as well as an official scorer for basketball games at Kalamazoo College for a number of years. Through his long-standing interest in sports, he remained active in pickup basketball, recreational bicycling, and especially playing handball until his early 60’s.
After his retirement, he was active with both the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy and the Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones. He served as President and board member of both organizations. An area of special interest to Paul was the Wild Ones Community Projects Committee which implemented and managed native plant projects at a number of locations throughout the city. His conservation efforts, resulted in a diverse, notable collection of native plants, mostly spring ephemerals at his home in Kalamazoo. Throughout his life he remained interested in fungi, plants, nature, conservation, and environmental protection.
I knew Paul both as a professor and a colleague. I learned a lot from him in both capacities. He also helped me get my start in cultivating spring ephemerals, and I still have descendants of plants he gave me nearly 3 decades ago. His work with SWMLC will leave a legacy for generations. My deep condolences to Sally and the rest of his family.
I was deeply saddened to hear of Paul’s passing and send my sincere condolences to Sally and all the Olexia family. I got to know Paul when he was a young professor at Kalamazoo College. We become acquainted even before my freshman year at K started, in fall of 1973 when he was a faculty leader of the Land/Sea program and I was one of sixteen participants that inaugural year. Then, as a biology major, I think I took every class that Paul offered when I was on campus. Mycology in the fall of my senior year was a particular standout. Paul was influential in my choice of botany as a field for graduate study and he helped me with the application process. We stayed in touch as my career progressed. In recent years, I have been inspired by his advocacy for conservation. I enjoyed seeing him every five years when I came back for reunions. He usually came along, or co-lead, a hike at the Kalamazoo Nature Center or elsewhere for all the members of the class of ’77 who were fans of field biology. I will miss seeing him at our 50th. In sum, Paul was an inspiring teacher, a patient mentor, a champion of his students and had a great sense of humor on top of all that! The picture above really captures him well. I will always remember the impact he had on my education and professional development and his kind and generous nature. He will be greatly missed.