Condolence: We here at the FAA wish to note that today - December 29th, 2021 - would have been Paul’s 56th Birthday. Hopefully, today also marks the beginning of our continued Remembrance of Paul and all that he accomplished during his long professional career as well as his dedication to all of his colleagues - both inside and external to the FAA; but most of all to his family and friends.

With Continued Sympathy
Ralph Gatto, P.E.
FAA, New York Airports District Office

Condolence: I only recently arrived in Paul's organization in the FAA, so I unfortunately did not have the opportunity to get to know him well. But I knew him by his great reputation even before leaving my old office in Washington DC to come here. Paul was an excellent civil engineer who, as his biography here shows, dedicated his career to such an important mission for our country. I've also heard so many wonderful anecdotes about Paul and his personality from others in our group. He will be missed by us all.

Paul - You made a difference. Rest in Peace.

Condolence: I worked with Paul for 11 years in the FAA, Airports Division. Out of my almost 33 years of service, I never worked with anyone like Paul. He was intense and engaging. He invested his time in people and gave of himself. He cared. He put his heart and soul into everything he did. To say Paul gave 100% is an understatement. He always challenged himself, wanted to be challenged by others and challenged you, even when you sometimes didn't want to be challenged. But that was Paul. We had our disagreements and we had our differences. We dance differently we different people but over time I grew to appreciate and value his qualities. At the end of the day, he was the guy you wanted on your Team, he was the guy you wanted on your side and if needed, he was the guy you wanted to fight for you. Paul will never be the person that 10, 20 or even thirty years from now, you ask yourself "what was that guy's name from work?' Paul stood out.

I will miss our conversations about his family, reminiscing about the 80's, music, movies, tv programs and just about life in general. Paul was a great storyteller and could recite songs and dialogue word for word, line by line. His attention to detail was incredible.

As I struggle with his loss, I realize that although Paul is no longer with us in the physical sense, he is very much alive in all of us. He is a part of who we are. He gave us so much and made us strive to be better people and it gives me great comfort and happiness to say I knew him.

Christine Sanchez

Condolence: Paul Whealan – a dedicated and very capable airport/civil engineer – will be remembered with true respect for his honesty and diligent work effort by all those that came to know and work with him. He will also be remembered for his easy going personality – with an obvious element of sincerity and openness. One of Paul’s obvious characteristic traits was his ability to truly listen to his coworkers’ questions and interests, and respond to their needs with a depth unusual in many professional circles. His contribution to his professional associates were not only detailed – but relied upon with faith in the content of his consultation and his unwavering commitment to providing truthful responses unclouded by self-interest. Likewise, Paul was open and forthright in his business relationships with the representatives of the airports he communicated with on a daily basis as well as their consultants.

There is no doubt by his coworkers of Paul’s love for his parents. Even when the effort to sustain their lives as best he could was clearly enormous – and it was also clear that he focused on their every need – he worked tirelessly after work hours – almost to exhaustion – to address their needs. He clearly had the support of his siblings, nephews and nieces. In all, it could be seen that Paul was key to his parents later years, but more so - he was a main thread in the fabric of his family. It may not have been known to many, but Paul was also very generous to his fellow co-workers, many of who we might presume he did not know personally, in that he gave freely of his accrued annual and sick leave hours under the agency’s voluntary leave transfer program to assist them financially through very critical illnesses.

To his family and friends, the FAA offers its unabridged expression of sympathy for your loss. Please take comfort in knowing that Paul was one of the best of our engineers - but beyond his skill – he will always be remembered for the great person he was. May his nephews and nieces take great pride in their uncle – as he is and will always be a guiding role model to them.

With Profound Sympathy
Ralph Gatto, P.E.
FAA, New York Airports District Office

Condolence: I would like to pass my deepest condolences to Paul's family and all who knew him. Although I haven't seen Paul in awhile, I always considered him a dear friend. I have only good memories of our times together. He will always remain a dear friend.

Condolence: "Everyone you meet is a part of your journey but not all of them are meant to stay in your life. Some people are just passing through to bring you gifts, either they're blessings or lessons"

Paul, thank you for being a part of our journey and sharing your gifts with us. You will be missed! Rest in Peace.