Camden People - Paul LeBaron Springer II

PAUL LEBARON SPRINGER II was born in New Jersey around 1918 to Joseph Armand Springer Sr. and the former Audrey Coder. He was named after his uncle.

Paul L. Springer II was one of at least five children, coming after Ruth and before Eleanore, Joseph A. Jr. and Victor M. Springer. The family had been living in Philadelphia as late June 5, 1917, where Joseph A Springer Sr. worked for the United States Postal Service.

The 1920 Census shows the Springers living at 1 Euclid Avenue in Merchantville, New Jersey, with Joseph Springer then working as an electrician. By 1922 the Springers had moved to 932 Woodland Avenue in the Morgan Village section of Camden. The family was still there when the 1927 City Directory was compiled. By 1928 they had moved to 770 Woodland Avenue and were still there when the 1930 Census taken. By 1928 Joseph A. Springer had gone back to working for the United States Postal Service as a clerk. The family had moved to 2973 North Congress Road by the time of the 1940 Census.

After graduating from Camden High School in 1934,Paul Springer was employed in the Real Estate Department of Fidelity Philadelphia Trust in Philadelphia. Soon thereafter, he was awarded a full scholrship to Yale. After graduating in 1941, he taught English in China. After the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, Paul Springer was recruited into the United States Foreign Service, where he served in various countries for six years. In 1949 he was recruited by a former Yale classmate to join the Central Intelligence Agency, where he served with distinction in senior positions with the Agency in the Far East and Africa. He was awarded the CIA Medal of Merit upon his retirement in 1968.

After retirement, Paul Springer settled in Texas. He passed away on January 6, 2012 at the age of 94.

Paul Springer was also noted as a singer. He was a member of the Society Of Orpheus and Bacchus, an a cappella singing group of male students from Yale University. Founded in 1938, The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus is the second longest-running undergraduate a cappella group in the nation, after the Yale Whiffenpoofs. Other members include Hunter H. Comly'41 - identifier of the cause of the Blue Baby Syndrome; Ralph Levy'42 - an Emmy Award winning American producer, film and television director; William Collins Jr.'45 - a professor and Chief of Yale School of Medicine in 1967; David Chavchavadze'50 - an American author and a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer; Robert Picardo'75 - an American actor. He is best known for his portrayals of Dr. Dick Richards on ABC's China Beach, the Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH), also known as The Doctor, on UPN's Star Trek: Voyager, The Cowboy in Innerspace, and Coach Cutlip on The Wonder Years (where he received an Emmy nomination); James L. Connaughton'83 - an American energy industry lawyer and the former George W. Bush administration environmental adviser; Tad Low'88 - creator and producer of television shows, including Pop-Up Video and Pants-Off Dance-Off; and John Gidding'99 - an American architect, television actor, and former fashion model.

Camden Courier-Post * January 11, 2012

Paul LeBaron Springer II

Paul LeBaron Springer II died on January 6, 2012, at the age of 94. After graduating from Camden High School in 1934, he was employed in the Real Estate Department of Fidelity Philadelphia Trust. Soon thereafter, he was awarded a full scholarship to Yale University, from which he graduated in 1941 with a degree in English Literature. Following his graduation he taught English in Yuanling, China, under the Yale-in-China program. In 1942 he joined the U. S. Department of State (Foreign Service) and served the next 6 years in China, Malaysia, Egypt, and British Honduras. He was recruited by a Yale classmate to join the Central Intelligence Agency in 1949, and served with distinction in senior positions with the Agency in the Far East and Africa. He was awarded the CIA Medal of Merit upon his retirement in 1968. Paul met and married the love of his life, Mary Jean O'Donnell, in Saigon in 1950 and raised seven children. His passions included his Christian faith and activities with his church, golf, bridge, bird watching, and especially singing. As a member of the Yale Glee Club, he sang with the Yale Alumni Chorus on its inaugural trip to China in 1998, and he and Mary Jean continued to travel with this group well into their 80s. Paul sang with the Austin Chorale for twenty years and with the King's Men and the Pines Presbyterian Church choir after he moved to Houston in 2007.

Paul is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Jean O'Donnell Springer; 7 children: Jodie (Jim Bevill) of Houston, TX, Susan (Nick Simon) of Leesville, SC, Cathie (Jim Conaway) of Kennett Square, PA, Paul (Lana) of Atlanta, GA, Sarah (Rusty Riese) of Katy, TX, Peter (Maritza) of Houston, TX, and Barbie (Andy Preston) of Liberty Hill, TX; 12 grandchildren: Meegan Montgomery, Holly and Mitchell Simon, Jimmy, Brian and Russell Conaway, Emily and Monica Springer, Kyle (Anna) and Colin Doherty, Lauren and Daniel Springer. He is also survived by his sister Eleanore Springer of Collingswood, NJ, brother Victor (Ann) of Duarte CA, sister-in-law Betty Springer of Bradenton, FL, and many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph A. and Audrey Springer; his sister Ruth and her husband Bill Zeltman; and his brother Joe.

A visitation with the family will be held at The Buckingham, 8580 Woodway, Houston, TX, on Sunday, January 15, from 4-6PM. A memorial service to celebrate Paul's life will be held at the Pines Presbyterian Church, 12751 Kimberley, Houston, TX, on Monday, January 16 at 2PM with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the charity of one's choice charity of one's choice charity of one's choice in honor of Paul L. Springer..