Paul A. Becker

 Paul A. Becker died piously in the Lord early in the morning of January 17, 2020 at his home in Bluffton, SC. 

Paul was born in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1932, the first child of Paul A. Becker and Dorothy Ryer Becker. He graduated from Xavier High School in New York City in 1949 and entered the Jesuit Order in Poughkeepsie, New York. In the years that followed, he earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in history at Loyola University of Chicago, a licentiate in philosophy at West Baden, Indiana and a bachelor’s degree in theology at Woodstock College in Maryland. He received a doctorate in college administration from the University of Michigan in 1968 and served as Academic Dean at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, New Jersey as well as Provost at the University of Detroit.

In 1974, Paul left the Jesuits and married Barbara Steele Becker, his wife for the next forty-five years. The Beckers lived in Los Angeles, California where Paul received his doctorate of law from Loyola-Marymount University Law School and practiced law with Gibson Dunn and Crutcher until 1993.  The couple retired and moved to Prescott, Arizona where they resided until their final move to Sun City, Hilton Head in 1999. In November 2019, Barbara Becker passed away. Paul never fully recovered from the loss of his beloved wife and partner in life.

Paul and Barbara were active members and supporters of Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church and school. His family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Hilton Head Hospital, the staff at NHC Health Care, and the caregivers at Tidewater Hospice and Senior Helpers of Hilton Head for their kindness, compassion, and consideration.

Survivors include Paul’s two siblings, his brother Richard J. Becker of Silver Spring, Maryland and his sister, Jeanne Becker Lynch of Alexandria, Virginia, twelve nieces and nephews, and 22 grand nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, friends are requested to send donations to Jesuit Refugee Service USA, 1016 16th Street, NW, Suite 500 in Washington, DC 20036. 

A memorial mass was held at St. Andrews Chapel in Bluffton, SC on January 24, 2020.

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