Paul Garelick was a member of the House of Bamboo from 1962-1965. During his HOB days, Paul was definitely the tallest member towering four or five inches over six feet and was probably the most athletic member leading HOB to first place in the intramuals in 1963-64 and second place in 1964-65. Paul was the best handball player at Queens College and had first place sewn up for HOB in that tournament. Paul also loved the HOB mixers with female house plans which in the early days were held in members' basements. Paul would bring his tapes, which he made of his favorite dance songs on the old fashioned reels, and tape player/recorder. I still remember the big New Years' Eve party we had in my basement to ring in 1964 with most of the HOB members attending with their dates, and dancing until two or three in the morning to the music of Paul's tapes (mostly slow and close).

Paul was part of the famous HOB trio of himself, John Jokl and Barry Tivin, who remained lifetime friends and who all sadly passed away in the past five years. Paul married John's sister Lillian who was also a great friend of HOB while attending QC. Paul graduated Queens College in 1965 as an accounting major, and then became a mathematics teacher. He retired as a math teacher from Benjamin Cardozo High School in Queens several years ago. Paul had a very active retirement and played tennis and jogged or walked everyday. Paul also ran Come Together with Barry Tivin for many years, which was a very successful singles company on Long Island. Paul did use his QC accounting education for his tax preparation business. Paul and Lillian were also expert bridge players and instructors.

Paul was in great physical shape when he suddenly passed away in February 2005 while he was watching television in his lounge chair at the age of 61. I remember in college he never drank or smoked and then when we went on a cruise together in the summer 2003 to Cozumel and Belize, Paul still didn't drink or smoke and never had. Paul and Lillian were a great couple and loads of fun to be with. Ruthann and I still can't believe Paul left this world. Paul was easy going, happy, a great athlete, and seemed like he would live forever just like the House of Bamboo. Paul is survived by his wife Lillian, who was a teacher and is now a top administrator for the NYC Department (formerly Board) of Education working in the old Tweed Courthouse, and their twins, Lauren who is a Health and Physical Education teacher on Long Island and Jason who is an Assistant District Attorney in Queens County.

Submitted by Mike Solomon