Service Tributes
Welcome – Tom Taylor, Head of Paideia School
“And just as Aslan breathed life into Narnia with his beautiful noise, so too did Paul love Paideia into existence with our own beautiful noise, a noise that fills our school to this day. Every single day we hear it. We hear the giggles, the tears, the joyful learning. We hear children singing, sharing their voices with one another and with the world.”
A Goodbye – Melissa Bianchi ’88
“Dad – we were all so lucky that you never crowded out the sheer joy of being a parent and later a grandparent. You always loved having kids around to talk to, play with, bet with, or just be with – generations of students, your own children and your many grandchildren. You took such joy in each of us - appreciated our differences and nurtured our interests. And for that we will be forever grateful.”
Student Reflection – Senator Jon Ossoff ’05
“Paul, you cared about the kids who were your responsibility and under your instruction more than any educator I or any of us have ever encountered… Without Paul Bianchi, there would be no Senator Ossoff…”
Teacher Reflection – Joseph Cullen
“Paul taught us to be better people. He made this a better city and sent well-educated apostles out into the nation to do good work. He gave so very many of us his gift of friendship and built us a beautiful school which is a fountain of youth on Ponce de Leon.”
Teacher Readings
“Paul was more than just the Head of School to me. He stepped in and gave me an opportunity to have my children live the types of life I only dreamed of as a child. He supported me and the basketball program. He was our biggest fan. You never stop learning life lessons and Paul taught me so many.”
– Eddie Johnson, Paideia teacher and coach
Monday Morning Memos
“We loved Paul’s humor. Monday morning memos were a look at the week ahead with occasional nuggets of wisdom. Here are some classics.
For years we begged for Memorial Day to be a school holiday. On May 27, 1991, he wrote this: “I give up! I've had it! You win. Uncle! Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa. Twenty years is too long to hold out, even for the noblest of causes, the most precious of principles. Memorial Day, next year's, it's yours. May 25, 1992 — go visit a dead person, see if I care. If that's what makes you happy, that's what makes me happy.”
– Jennifer Swift, Class of 1988
A Goodbye – Sarah Bianchi ’91
“He was sitting by the lake in New Hampshire, when I called on the first day of school at Paideia after he retired. He was sentimental and cranky. “Can you believe after all these years, they did the first day of school without me?” Actually Dad, they didn’t do it without you. Your fingerprints are everywhere, and they always will be. “
Notes to and from Grampy
– Elena Pastreich, Julia Pastreich, Sam Pastreich, Eva Vinik, Josh Vinik, Lexi Markham ’27, James Markham ’30, Anna Markham ’36
“Seven of us [grandchildren] want to share some of what he wrote to or about us or what we’d like to tell him. I’ll start. “Elena, you are still the same person, with the same strengths and weaknesses, the same potential, and the same annoying little habits. You are growing up to become a wonderful young woman, not perfect like Grampy, but mostly cool and full of promise.”
– Elena Pastreich, oldest grandchild
A Goodbye – Emily Bianchi ’97
“Dad, you are in the pages of my life in more ways than you could ever know. The pages of so many lives are covered in your writing; filled with your wit, humor, advice, and most of all love.”
Passing the Baton
– the baton is passed… we touch the next runner, we touch the future…. from my children to your children to our grandchildren. The light of Paideia has illuminated our lives for more than fifty years. May it continue to burn brightly”
– Paul Bianchi
The Full Memorial Service
On May 16th, 2025, the Paideia community joined together at Symphony Hall to remember and honor the life of Paul Bianchi.