(photo: Paul Kondrat, courtesy of Liz Ender)Paul Joseph Kondrat was born in Royal Oak, Michigan on November 7, 1982, and grew up in Berkley, Michigan. He is survived by his parents Michael and Charlene, brother Andy, sister-in-law Liz, maternal grandmother Helene and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins. As a child, Paul was naturally curious and grew up enthusiastically enjoying a wide range of sports, educational opportunities and artistic endeavors.
Paul graduated with honors from Berkley High School (Class of 2001) and attended Michigan State University studying Elementary Education (Class of 2006). Before graduating with honors, Paul completed a study abroad program teaching in South Africa and student taught in Detroit. After graduating from MSU, Paul spent the summer as a historical presenter at Greenfield Village.
Although teaching was a lifelong passion, Paul changed direction and accepted the challenge of serving his country. He graduated top ten in his class from the USMC Officer Candidate School, eventually promoted to the rank of Captain. During his 7 years of war time service in the USMC, Paul led Air Traffic Control and Civil Affairs Marines while serving 4 tours in Afghanistan.
Upon separating from the Marines, Paul attended Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, earning both a private and commercial pilot license. During his deployment in Japan, Paul had grown fond of the Japanese culture. Paul returned to Kyoto, Japan and enrolled into a Japanese Language Immersion course for one year.
Continuing his passion of being a lifelong learner, his next stop was the University of Wisconsin, Madison to pursue an MBA in Supply Chain Management. Upon graduation, Paul accepted a position with Amazon and began a 5-year career moving from Salt Lake City to Ft. Worth, to Reno, and back to Salt Lake City, opening new Amazon delivery branches and serving as the manager at each of these stops.
Throughout Paul’s life, his curiosity and adventurous nature introduced him to mountain climbing, fly fishing, rock climbing, hiking, skydiving, hockey, skiing and travel. Last year, he made a decision to leave Amazon and spend his life pursuing what he genuinely loved... Flying!
Paul was working as a Certified Flight Instructor at Cornerstone Aviation in Salt Lake City when he was offered the opportunity to work in Moose Pass, Alaska instructing other pilots float plane skills. The opportunity to be a float plane instructor was just too exciting to pass up at this time in his flying career and in late May, Paul began his Alaskan journey. He would regularly call family and gush about the decision that he made to go to Alaska. He would speak of flying, nature, the students and his peers. He was having “the time of his life”.
On June 18, 2024, Paul’s life was tragically taken in an aviation accident. Although Paul is no longer with us, he will be remembered as a tremendous son, brother, brother-in-law, cousin, nephew and friend to many. His love for watches, jazz music and Asian food was a big part of what he was about. Paul collected eclectic artwork, WWII memorabilia, and was an avid reader. His love for hockey provided many happy times by coaching, playing and mentoring young players. Paul was always looking for new adventures and loved the challenge of discovery, education and comprehension.
Never a braggadocio, he had many stories to tell. Just a few included an acquaintance with musicians John Rich and Kenny Alfin (Big & Rich), meeting President George W. Bush at a Dr. Pepper machine in Quantico VA, running a half marathon in the Kingdom of Bhutan, ice climbing Mount Rainier and Mount Fuji, a chance encounter with Commander David Scott, Apollo 15 astronaut at a taco stand in Tucson, and just recently, Post Malone, at the fly fishing counter at Scheels Sporting Goods in SLC UT.
Paul impacted many people through his teaching, hockey coaching, mentoring and many, many friendships all over the world. PAUL LIVED LIFE FEARLESSLY! He was truly one of a kind and will be greatly missed. Honoring his love for flying, Paul's family asks that memorial gifts be directed to Northwestern Michigan College, to establish the Paul J. Kondrat Fund.