Dr. Paul E. Scheele, 87, died peacefully at home after a brief illness on October 29, 2021, surrounded by his family. He had recently been a resident of The Plains with his beloved partner of 35 years, Susan R. Hughson, and maintained his home on Clinton Street, Oneonta, since 1982.

Paul led a remarkable and rich life, defined by lifelong learning, love of the arts, especially choral music and jazz, close and loving relationships with family and friends all over the world, and a gift for connecting authentically with people no matter who they were or what their backgrounds were.

Paul was born on April 12, 1934, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Kathryn Marie Heitkotter Scheele and Ernest Frederick Scheele. He attended Lutheran parochial schools through junior high school, whereupon he enrolled in Lincoln High School. He subsequently received B.A., Master's, and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Nebraska.

Paul married Geraldine M. Scheele (1933-2019) in 1954 in Lincoln, Nebraska, where they had three children, Carla, Christie, and Karin. While in graduate school, Paul supported his young family with service in the Army from 1955 to 1961, and as a radio d.j., hosting jazz and classical music programs. The family moved to Oneonta in 1964 when Paul was offered a teaching job in the Political Science department at State University College at Oneonta. He taught Political Science at the college from 1964 to 1997. Although a scholar of American government and politics, he became interested in the development of special interest groups in Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and traveled there for research on three separate visits beginning in 1992. Paul and Gerri separated in 1981.

He cared deeply about his students and their development as critical thinkers, and was involved in the development at SUCO of an interdisciplinary course for freshmen to provide them with an orientation to the wide array of resources available to them at the college. Upon retiring from SUCO, he continued to write, publishing articles and editing the book We Get What We Vote For...Or Do We? The Impact of Elections on Governing (1999), a collection of essays examining the effect of elections on policy-making. He also continued to teach, designing courses for The Center for Continuing Adult Learning on the political scene, jazz, and political and economic philosophy, among other topics.

Paul loved the arts and was passionately involved in several choral music ensembles, singing in the bass section. He was a community leader, with roles in cultural organizations as well as city government, as a founding member of the Catskill Choral Society, the Catskill Chamber Singers, and member and President of the Oneonta Concert Association. He was a member of the Oneonta Charter Review Commission in 2014.

He was an avid world traveler with his partner, Susan, and wrote long, engaging accounts of their experiences for his family and friends. When Paul wasn't singing, he enjoyed tennis, biking, and hiking throughout his life.

He is survived by daughters, Carla Scheele (Harold Augenbraum) of Big Indian, NY, Christie Scheele (Jack Morelli) of Chichester, NY, and Karin Scheele (Bruce Lenkei) of Brewster, NY, and by five grandchildren, Audrey, Tony, Tessa, Emily and Alison, a niece, Lee Corbett, and a nephew, Daryl Scheele, as well as many grand nieces and nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service / celebration of the life will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta, 12 Ford Avenue, on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at 4 pm. All are welcome. In light of Covid risk, masks are required and the family requests attendees be vaccinated, please. Paul wished to be remembered with joy, not only sorrow, and in that spirit, requested colorful dress, or even a flash of color, if you are so moved. Attending via Zoom is an option: http://uuso.org/church-calendar/ .

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Paul's memory may be made to the Oneonta Concert Association (oneontaconcertassociation.org) and the Catskill Choral Society (catskillchoralsociety.com).

Arrangements by Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.  Online condolences may be made to, www.lhpfuneralhome.com