Obituary: Paul Hrbacek
March 12, 1933 – March 7, 2022
Paul Hrbacek was born to Stephen and Susan Hrbacek on Staten Island, NY, and grew up in the Bronx. In 1951, he joined the Navy, and served as an Aviation Electronics Technician until 1955. He graduated from San Diego State College in 1960 with a B.A. in Physics. As a physicist, he worked for various companies, such as Scripps Institute of Oceanography and General Dynamics/Astronautics. While in Southern California, Paul’s other love was belonging to the Porsche Owners Club Race Team driving a Porsche Speedster at Del Mar and other race tracks.
He started his own company, West Kensington Engineering in Los Angeles before moving to South Lake Tahoe, in 1979, where he started Soda Fountain Equipment Co. Many remember his bright pink work truck he drove all around Lake Tahoe, blasting classical music! Paul never lost his love of science, taking great pains to explain difficult theoretical concepts over an aged bottle of wine, and a thunderous symphony. Paul’s fantastic sense of humor, his booming voice, laughter, and poetic candor will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Paul is survived by his beloved daughter, Stephanie, his only granddaughter, Chandre, and former wife, Sue Miller. Preceded in death by his son, Rory, whom we lost, tragically in 1991. Please share your memories with Stephanie via shrb1103@gmail.com
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