Paul Gregory McNally, the recently retired general manager of the Ingomar Club, died early Thursday morning, July 15, after a brief battle with cancer at St Joseph’s Hospital in Eureka.

Paul was born on July 6, 1953, in Eureka to Raymond Gregory McNally and Marilyn Jean (Carlson) McNally, who both spent their careers with Bank of America. Paul attended Worthington School, Zane Junior High and graduated in the Eureka Senior High class of 1971. He received his Bachelor’s degrees from Humboldt State in business, journalism, and political science.

Paul began his long and distinguished career in hospitality in 1974 at the Eureka Inn. While there, Paul worked alongside John Porter in transforming the Inn into Eureka’s “go-to” destination, especially at Christmas time. Paul took great joy transforming the Inn into a magical Christmas destination for many Humboldt County families. The centerpiece of the Inn’s Christmas celebration was the hand-picked and cut 24-foot-tall Christmas tree, always adorned with many memorable scenes. Most notable of those scenes was in 1984, when the tree was decorated with 15 pairs of live white doves, followed the next year by an engineering marvel of four working train sets. Planning and implementing these elaborate Christmas events always provided great happiness for Paul.

His hospitality career transitioned in 1986 to the Hyatt Corporation, where he spent nearly two decades working at resort properties around the world. The list of those properties is long and prestigious, and includes those in San Francisco, Vail, Maui, Goa and Seoul, among others. Paul personally supervised many high-profile Hyatt stays, including Presidents Bill Clinton and George HW Bush, Queen Elizabeth II, King Fahd, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

The Ingomar Club was very fortunate to secure Paul’s services as a consultant in 2004 after a family illness brought Paul back to Eureka. In 2008 he began his tenure as General Manager, during which he helped grow the Club’s membership significantly, while embracing and incorporating the Club’s heritage and significance to the local community in all that he did. Paul retired from the Ingomar Club in 2019. He was eager to begin the next phase of his life. He had great plans for amazing travel, joyful visits with family and friends, and just simply relaxing at home with his beverage of choice.

Paul’s charm, wit, and generous nature were abundantly clear to everyone. He had many friends both locally and around the world, whom he cherished, who feel blessed to have known him. Paul will be greatly missed.

Paul was predeceased by his parents Raymond and Marilyn and is survived by his Aunt Lois Hadley, cousins Joan Caldwell and Sue Tofflemire, and their children Andrew and Brian Tofflemire, and Sarah and Erin Caldwell. He is also survived by his long-time friend Tamara Dinsmore who shared many Giants game with him, rain or shine, win or lose.

The family would like to thank all the close friends and associates who were so important to Paul, especially Ramon Ranoco, Janet Hansen, Dolores Vellutini, and Susanne Campton for their care and attention to Paul during this past year while he was dealing with health issues.

Paul was dedicated to KEET-TV, serving on their Board of Directors, and as Board President, and most recently as an active member of the Leadership Circle. Helping the KEET team with his hard work and creative ideas to help them meet their annual goals. As a strong supporter of public television and radio, as well as various non-profit organizations in the arts, theaters, museums, and historical societies, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to KEET, or a charity of your choice.

A celebration of Paul’s life is will be held Saturday, August 21st at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Please contact paulmcnallylifecelebration@gmail.com so that we may keep you up to date with details.

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