Spielbound is remembering the life of one of its most dedicated volunteers, Dr. Paul Ing. Paul was active in Spielmasons, Stay Sharp, and even volunteered many hours cataloging games for the library. Paul had a passion for volunteering and mentoring others during his “semi-retired” years. Paul owned a catering business and was always eager to share his recipes during committee meetings. He loved to create new games and Stay Sharp loved to play his game Recollections. Paul would also offer sage advice to those he met, including ways to stay active as you get older, a how-to for raising children, among other things. Paul was the self-proclaimed jester and poster child for Stay Sharp’s target audience. Throughout the years Paul’s experiences honed his ability to focus on finding solutions in the shortest amount of time possible while having the most fun. There was never a dull moment when Paul was around, and we would like to take this opportunity to write down a few of our favorite memories.
Spielbound is accepting donations (
) in honor of Dr. Paul Ing
to keep his memory alive in future Spielbound endeavors that he was so committed to volunteer. These funds would
exclusively go toward ensuring that Paul and his spirit will live on in our board game community. Our goal is to make
something in his name to celebrate his memory.
We miss you Paul.
“For a moment Paul and I were the only two committee members for Stay Sharp, as our group grew in numbers one of my
favorite memories was listening to him tell his signature jokes to every new member… I’m Paul Ing, you can remember
me because I am simply appalling [a Paul Ing] … I am very fortunate to have worked alongside Paul for the past couple
years and I will never forget his jokes and bits of wisdom that I have picked up along the way”
"With his unforgettable introduction as a-Paul-Ing, Paul left an indelible impression on so many aspects of
Spielbound, its volunteers, and me. He came in almost daily two years ago to try out his new games and test them with
Rollie - he had a fire in his belly to create something that would continue making fun, memorable experiences with
others. Through play I got to see some of his many layers, connect about Taiwan, food, science, and that he loved and
was proud of his family, no matter their distance. Paul gave so much and made my world brighter. Shine on."
"Paul saw the world with a unique vision that was reflected in the uniqueness of his game designs. Playing a game
with him was like sharing in the way he saw the world, a world constructed by the mechanics of creativity,
generosity, and passion. The world will be like a game with a missing piece without him."
“Paul always knew how to brighten up a room, whether it was his jokes or just being happy when others weren’t. His
original games were always interesting at the very least and inspired me to be more creative in my own endeavors. I
know that creativity will live on through all of us.”
“He always had a solution for everything. When Andrea and I were moving, he suggested we strap items to ourselves
using cling wrap to help carry stuff in. I wanted to write a paper about stay sharp and he sent me a detailed
document about his life and passion for Stay Sharp. He always showed up to meetings and you could count on his upbeat
attitude.”
“I remember Paul coming into a meeting one day, and we had started talking about where we were born and raised. Paul
and I found out we were from the same county in Maryland. One of the next times I’d seen him, he went out of his way
to find an old beanie from his high school that turned out to be the rival of mine. Him going out of his way to find
that hat and just use it as one of the simplest ways to start a conversation, showed how much he listened and cared
to connect.”
“One evening I went to Spielbound and Paul was there with food that he made as part of a demo. It was crazy spicy,
but also so delicious I couldn't stop eating. I ended up taking his business card. When I got home I laid the card on
the counter and Frank picked it up and said "Oh, you know Paul?" Of course Paul knew Frank.
Paul was gregarious, engaging, a great cook, a fabulous story teller, and always willing to help. Oh yeah, he also played and made, really good board games. Paul will be missed.”
Paul was gregarious, engaging, a great cook, a fabulous story teller, and always willing to help. Oh yeah, he also played and made, really good board games. Paul will be missed.”
“Paul was a jack of all trades. I admired his drive to be constantly learning.”
“Before one of our Stay Sharp events, Paul and I went to Dinker’s for dinner. He was super excited to take me there
because I’d never been, and he was a self-proclaimed connoisseur of salt, fat and beer. He refused to let me pay and
wanted me to enjoy ‘the best burger in Omaha’ with him. I will always remember Paul’s incredible selflessness, his
theory that retirement is a scam, and his devotion to staying mentally and socially active. He will be and is already
missed dearly.”
“Paul was one of the most prolific game designers in the Spielmasons. He was a constant source of creativity, and
there was always a lot of laughter when Paul was around. He was a great friend whom I looked forward to seeing every
week”
“Paul was such a joy to work with and to be around. His creativity, passion, and big heart brought so much to Stay
Sharp. He was a true poster child for aging well. He was smart, funny, and always working on a new game idea (or
three). He even came to our baby shower before our son was born in July, bringing some delicious food and a whole
page full of parenting and life advice. One of my favorite quotes that he shared with us was advice given to country
music singer Minnie Pearl before she performed for the first time at the Grand Ole Opry. “Just love them, honey, and
they’ll love you back.” Paul said this was good advice for many situations, and I think this is how he lived out his
life.”
“Paul had a passion for numbers, dancing, and helping the community. Paul and I connected over dancing and every time
I saw him, he showed me a new ballroom video he had been working on. He was a spirited performer. I always thought
Paul was intelligent. He was proud of his life but was never boastful. He was eager to help each of us out when we
asked, and he fed into our lives. He made us food every time we were together and invited us to more events than most
of us were able to attend. I wish there had been more time. Stay Sharp won’t be the same without our poster child. ”
“Paul never went anywhere without a game in his van or an idea for a game running around his head. It was great
getting to volunteer with him and getting to try out some of his games or while cataloging listening to him throwing
out ideas for how to make a game more playable, engaging, or accommodating to a wider audience. He really championed
the idea that everyone can play.”