Paul Coleman: 1954-2018

Paul Coleman, an adjunct faculty member at the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business died, Oct. 24. He was 64.

As part of the Department of Management for nearly two decades, Coleman shared his knowledge with students at the business school.  A full-time mortgage consultant for State Farm for 11 years, he had joined Wells Fargo in September.

A native of Belleville, Illinois, Coleman received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Western Illinois University in 1977 and went on to earn his MBA in 1984.

Coleman, who passed away suddenly, was admired and respected by his colleagues, including Mark Higgins, Ph.D., dean of Chaifetz School.

“Paul was a warm and caring person who loved his students and teaching at SLU,” Higgins said.

David Kaplan, Ph.D., chair of the management department, also reflected on Coleman’s commitment to his students.

"Every time I saw Paul he had a smile on his face and he was looking at how we could do more for our students," Kaplan added.

Management colleague Jerome Katz, Ph.D., called Coleman a “natural teacher.”

“He was loved by his students, admired by his colleagues and respected by his community,” Katz said. “He personally embodied SLU’s Jesuit idea of ‘men and women for others’ in every way and was not only a teacher but a role model for every business student.”

Coleman is survived by his wife Martha; daughter Tamara; siblings Dr. Nancy Greer Williams, Thomas Hopewell, Charles Frisco and Darla Goodwin. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Nathanial and Margie Coleman, and siblings Anthony Dean, Deborah and Joe, Jr.

A memorial Mass was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Belleville.

Memorial contributions are welcome for an educational scholarship fund for Coleman’s daughter, Tamara, a student at SLU’s Doisy College of Health Sciences. A go-fund me page is in the process of being established, however, currently checks can be made to Tamara Coleman and sent to 2951 Plum Hill School Road, Belleville, IL 62221.