Paul M. Stutsman
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Miami Herald Obituary published February 24, 2004:

STUTSMAN, PAUL M., died February 19, 2004, at the age of 79, of liver failure. He was born in Hammond, Indiana.

He enlisted in the Army in 1942, and served as Sergeant Major in the Pacific theater during World War II. Upon his return in 1946, he enrolled in Purdue University and received his degree in Civil Engineering. After working on a number of projects in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois as a structural engineer, he entered Indiana University School of Law and graduated in 1961. He became interested in Urban Planning and in 1965 established his own consulting practice in Miami, using both the disciplines of law and engineering.

He was active in a number of organizations including the Greater Miami Aviation Association, where he served as president and was on the Scholarship Committee for many years; the Florida Planning and Zoning Association, where he also served as president; the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce; and was the AOPA airport support network volunteer for Kendall- Tamiami Executive Airport.

His interest in aviation grew and in addition to serving on Florida state-wide committees, he helped organize the Tamiami Aero Club for pilots of small aircraft. It has grown steadily and now has 60 members. He was currently serving as a member of the board of Wings Over Miami. His love of flying in his Beechcraft Bonanza continued until his death.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elaine, son Daniel, daughter Jennifer Clark, son-in-law Jonathan, grandson Christopher, granddaughter Cassidy, his brother Calvin and wife Dee, and their three children, David, Wendy and Jan. He will be greatly missed by his many friends in the Miami area. According to his wishes, no services were held. Donations may be made in his name to the Zoological Society of Florida. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries.
Published in the Miami Herald on 2/24/2004.

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Miami Herald article published on February 25, 2004:

PAUL M. STUTSMAN

Leading planning advisor, aviator

BY REBECCA DELLAGLORIA

Paul M. Stutsman, a prominent Miami-Dade planning consultant, World War II veteran and a lifelong recreational airplane pilot, died Thursday of liver failure. He was 79.

As a consultant, Stutsman worked on several projects at Miami International Airport, advised many municipalities on zoning issues and even helped draw up zoning codes around the county, family members said.

Over the years, Stutsman belonged to several professional organizations, including the Greater Miami Aviation Association and the Florida Planning and Zoning Association, and he served as president of the Florida Governor's Aviation Advisory Council.

"My father always kept active in everything he could get his hands on," said Jennifer Clark.

Especially when it benefited the community, be it South Florida or his fellow fliers, said longtime friend David Bodley. ''That was his real passion in life,'' Bodley said, referring to Stutsman's community involvement. ``I think everything he did was in that context.''

TAMIAMI AERO CLUB

Stutsman and Bodley were both members of the Tamiami Aero Club, a group that flew out of Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport once a month, often to places like the Bahamas or the Cayman Islands.

Stutsman's love of flying began when he was an Army pilot in World War II -- before the Air Force became a separate branch of the military -- flying observation planes low and slow over the enemy, Bodley said.

After the war, Stutsman studied civil engineering at Purdue University in his native Indiana, where he met his wife, Elaine. They married in 1948 and remained married until his death.

After college, family members said, Stutsman worked briefly as a structural engineer in Chicago and elsewhere before entering law school at Indiana University.

The family moved to Miami in 1965, and Stutsman began working as a planning and urban design consultant -- combining the disciplines of law and engineering.

He joined the firm Howard, Needles, Tammen and Bergendorff for a time, also opening two private companies: Stutsman Associates and Stutsman Design Group. He worked at the latter until his death.

Stutsman was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer about three years ago, family members said.

He continued to fly his 1957 V-tail Beechcraft Bonanza A36 -- one of the few planes not destroyed at Tamiami airport during Hurricane Andrew -- until the end, they said.

His favorite quote, by Henry David Thoreau, is etched on a piece of driftwood sitting on his office desk, his daughter said: ``I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.''

In addition to his daughter and wife, Stutsman is survived by son Daniel Stutsman, brother Calvin Stutsman, grandchildren Christopher and Cassidy Clark, and nieces and nephews.

Services will not be held, according to his wishes, family members said.

Instead, a celebration of his life and accomplishments is being planned, to be held at the Wings Over Miami Museum at Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Zoological Society of Florida, One Zoo Boulevard, 12400 SW 152nd St., Miami, FL 33177.