Celebrate the Life of Paul Varnell

Paul has been variously described as a Renaissance Man, a curmudgeon, brusque, one of the kindest and most compassionate men alive, conservative,  libertarian, a gay activist and advocate, a journalist, social commentator, art critic and enormously multifaceted. In fact, he was all of these things and much more. Paul passed from this life on December 9th, 2011 and it is overdue that those who knew, admired and even loved him gather together to share remembrances, console one another and mark the passing of a dear friend, colleague and citizen.

The Memorial Gathering

There will be a memorial gathering on April 15, 2012 to be held at 2:00 pm in the Etienne Auditorium of the Leather Archives & Museum, 6418 N. Greenview Ave. on Chicago's North Side. There is no charge to attend the memorial gathering. The organizers are currently finalizing the program that will feature a number of presenters with whom Paul worked over the years and who knew him well. They will be sharing their remembrances of Paul with those in attendance. As the program is developed it will be posted to this website.

Attendance at this event is limited to those who are 18 years of age or older.

The Post Event Dinner

Currently under consideration is an optional dinner event that is open to all. If sufficient interest is expressed we will arrange for a buffet dinner with cash bar at the nearby Fireside Restaurant, known for its good food, ambiance and friendly staff. Cost including tax and tip will be $30 per person payable in advance. If the dinner becomes a reality we will use EventBrite to accept reservations and payments.

The Mailing List

The organizers of this event, Milan Vydareny and Gregory Nigosian, are still finalizing details. As details of the memorial program and possible dinner event become available they will be posted to this website. To be notified by email of any changes please subscribe to the Varnell Memorial email list. We will not share the list with outside parties. Signing up for the email list will ensure that you receive the latest information on a timely basis so you can make your plans accordingly. Checking the appropriate boxes on the subscription form will also provide the organizers with important information that will help determine interest and likely numbers of participants.