Paul Francis Acsay passed away Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Paul was born in St. Louis on June 2, 1952. His parents, Dennis and Anna Maria Acsay, were “Displaced Persons” who emigrated to the United States in 1951.

Paul grew up in the Walnut Park neighborhood and attended Nativity of Our Lord grade school where he joined the Boy Scouts and often recounted watching the moon landing in 1969 while at the National Jamboree in Idaho. He then went on to William Cullen McBride High School, graduating in 1970. At Florissant Valley Community College he majored in History, always his great passion, and played for the club rugby team. He then moved on to SIU-Edwardsville where he trained as a social studies teacher and was a member of the team that won one of the first trivia contests held in the area. While at SIU-E he volunteered at the Mississippi River Festival. This kindled his life-long passion for working “rock and roll” and other music and theatrical shows at many local venues such as the Fox, the American, Riverport, the Sheldon, and Shaw’s Garden. Paul worked part time for many years for B&D Concert Services.

Instead of teaching high school after leaving SIU-E, Paul began working for the Missouri Department of Probation and Parole. He moved to the Hyde Park neighborhood and became involved with the Hyde Park Renovation Effort (HYPRE). He served on the board and eventually was elected president of HYPRE. Paul loved the City and its many neighborhoods and historic districts. He knew all the back alleys, short cuts, bypasses, and the stories that went with them.

He traveled extensively always on the lookout for historic sites or buildings. He loved Cardinal baseball and could recount, in detail, situations and plays he either witnessed, heard on the radio, or saw on television from many years before. To the end he was following the Cardinals efforts to secure the second wild card spot.

Paul had a very wide circle of friends and could often be found holding court at a variety of diners around town. He will be missed by many.

A gathering to share memories will be held at Pat Connolly Tavern (6400 Oakland Ave., St Louis) on Saturday, October 2, from 2 to 6 pm.