Paul James Hedlund, beloved father, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 79. He was surrounded by many who loved him. His health had gradually declined following a stroke suffered years earlier, but his spirit and sense of humor remained unshaken to the end.

Born on June 26, 1946, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, Paul was the second child of Frank and Eva Hedlund. From a young age, he displayed a brilliant mind and a gifted hand, forever building, tinkering, and dreaming. While bed-ridden as a child, he spent countless hours creating and constructing with his treasured erector sets, later on he graduated to scavenging the neighborhood for parts to take a crack at making anything and everything he saw in the pages of Popular Mechanics magazines. From his earliest years, it was clear: Paul saw the world as something to be understood, shaped, and improved.

An exceptional student throughout his school years, Paul earned a full academic scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he studied Mechanical Engineering. He chose Michigan not only for its academic excellence but also because it boasted the nation's top gymnastics program. A skilled gymnast himself, Paul competed at the state championship level. His lifelong love of the sport led him to do handstands on his honeymoon and install a set of rings in his future home.

If a job required learning a specialized skill or an appetite for adventure, Paul Hedlund tried his hand at it: lifeguarding, lock-picking, trampoline performances, and even a singular day as a tree-trimmer. After graduating, Paul worked as an engineer for several years. Though stable and respectable, the job didn't quite satisfy his restless intellect or his drive for deeper challenges. Fearless and eager to stretch his mental prowess further, he made a bold pivot to law and enrolled at UCLA Law School with the vision of bringing technical insight to the courtroom.

Paul went on to build a remarkable legal career spanning over four decades and became a nationally respected expert in transportation accident law, including aviation, bus, train, and trucking cases. Starting as a solo practitioner helping the larger firm a few offices down with their computer woes, he rose to become senior partner and shareholder in that same firm which would later bear his name. At Baum Hedlund his leadership and legal acumen helped shape its legacy. One of his proudest professional milestones was arguing before the Supreme Court of the United States, a testament to both his intellect and determination.

But the Paul most people remember was not just an accomplished attorney, a mathematical wiz, a grammar aficionado, or an early adopter of any and all technology. Above all else, Paul Hedlund was a magnetic storyteller, with the kind of charisma and facility of humor not oft seen outside of a Mark Twain novel. Equipped with a booming laugh and an easy smile, he had a way of turning legal battles, travel mishaps, and everyday moments into captivating tales worthy of a standup stage.

To his children, Paul was so much more. Annemarie, from his marriage to Marie Kiraly, and Brooke and Tess, from his marriage to Marta Brewer, knew him as a devoted father who gave them the gift of his unwavering support. To them he imparted his love of music, art, cinema, tennis, animals, travel, and languages. He joined Brooke and Tess in their move to St. Louis where he spent the last years of his life doting on his three grandchildren, and being doted on in return, enjoying frequent visits from Annemarie and family near and far.

Paul is deeply mourned by his siblings Joel, Eugene, Ruth, and Christopher, who will always carry his memory in their hearts and miss his vibrant energy, sense of humor, and generous spirit.

A celebration of Paul's life will be held on November 15th, 2025 at The Triple Crown from 11:00am-2:30pm in Philadelphia. Invitations with further details to come.

If you are unable to attend or would like to share memories and photos with the family, please take a moment to sign the online guest book or send an email to pauljhedlund@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, you may send donations in Paul's memory to the Alzheimer's Association.