University City mourns the loss of Paul Schoomer, founding member and first chairperson of the Loop Special Benefit Taxing District, member and chairman of the City Plan Commission and an elected City Councilman for 20 years, from 1982 until 2002. A longtime business and civic leader in University City, he owned and operated Paul’s Books on Delmar from 1973 until 1996, was instrumental in the creation of the University City Historic Preservation Commission and was an active volunteer on several bond issue committees for the school district. In 2003 he was inducted into the University City School District’s Hall of Fame.
A lifelong resident of University City, he attended Jackson Park Elementary, Hanley Junior High and graduated in 1957 from University City High School. He began his college studies at Washington University, spent four years in the U.S. Air Force Weather Service and graduated from St. Louis University in 1967. In addition to being an avid archeologist, he served as a senior lecturer in anthropology at UMSL, volunteer with the St. Louis Holocaust Center, and member of the Jewish War Veterans.
We are proud to have known him and to call him our neighbor. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and others whose lives were touched by his commitment to making University City a better place for all. Contributions in his memory may be made to Central Reform Congregation, Planned Parenthood, NPR or the charity of your choice.