A memorial protection honoring Nicholas Ignatius Paul has been established by Georgianna and Dennis Paul through the American Floral Endowment ( AFE ) .
Nicholas Ignatius Paul “ Nick ” ( affectionately bonk as “ Chief ” by his colleagues ) of Paul ’s Wholesale Florist Company croak away on January 14 , 2023 , at the old age of 82 . He was a devoted member of the floral industry for over 60 years . His last sidereal day were spend with family and friends by his side as he had his entire life .
Upon their begetter ’s death in 1961 , Nick and his brother Dennis became the proprietor of Paul ’s Wholesale Florist Company . They devoted their life to the companionship , which was established by their founder in 1937 . This legacy inspired Nick ’s cacoethes and commitment to the floral industry .
Being untried ( and perhaps elevated ) , the Paul brothers decided if they were to spend their life in the business they had inherit , they desire to establish a more congenial working relationship among their contender . Among many other challenges at the time , this was their mission .
In 1986 , Nick was instrumental in developing a trusting relationship with the companionship ’s wholesaler partners resulting in a joint move of McCallum Sauber Florist Inc. , A. Gude Sons , the Washington Florists ’ substitution , and Paul ’s Wholesale Florist . Through stay fresh this corporate together for the move , Nick was a part of keep a 70 - year tradition of doing business concern side - by - side .
The original location of the wholesale married person on I Street in Washington D.C. had become difficult for in - person tell on due to limited distance , dealings , and parking . The raw and orotund location on Eckington Place , NE permitted each business to have and own its own space and became the Washington Flower Center .
The brothers , Nick and Dennis , were joint partners throughout the project , which ultimately aided in launching the habitus - up of commercial and residential ontogenesis known as North of Massachusetts Avenue ( NOMA ) today .
As an manufacture enthusiast , Nick dish out as a Past Director of the Allied Florist Association of Greater Washington , was a jock of the American Floral Endowment ( AFE ) , and a penis of the Wholesale Florist and Florist Supplier Association ( WF&FSA ) and the Society of American Florists ( SAF ) .
Nick was also a thirty-second - degree Mason , a member of St. John ’s Lodge No . 11 , in Washington , DC , and a lifetime extremity of the DC Ramblers Motorcycle Club .
Nick is survive by his sleep with wife of 39 years , June ; girl , Mary Elizabeth Duke ( Andrew ) and Catherine Geasling ; grandchildren , Ann Duke and James Duke ; crony Dennis Paul ( Georgianna ) , and by other family members whom he lie with mightily . Nick was precede in last by his beloved nephew James D. Paul II ( Christiana ) , his business enterprise spouse for fifteen yr .
