Paul Wesch

Paul Charles Wesch, age 66, of Mobile, Ala., died on December 27, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Linda McCarthy Wesch; his children, Paul Charles “Jay” Wesch, Jr., Caroline Wesch Dennis (Joseph), and Colden Benard Wesch (Joanie); his sister, Sharon Kay Wesch (Kevin Miller); his brother-in-law Stephen Benard McCarthy (Leigh); and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hans Charles Wesch and Kathleen McGee Wesch, his brother-in-law, Kenneth Joseph McCarthy, and his parents-in-law, Carmen McSweany McCarthy and Colden Benard McCarthy.
Paul was humble, wise, generous and kind. He connected deeply with people, and his friendships were enduring. He was born in Seattle on November 20, 1954, and grew up in Huntsville, Ala., graduating from Butler High School in 1973. He earned two undergraduate degrees and a law degree from the University of Alabama, where, as an undergraduate, he was president of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and was involved in various political and social organizations. Upon graduation from law school in 1980, he accepted a position with Stanard and Mills law firm in Mobile and continued his education earning a LL.M. degree in Taxation from the University of Alabama. In the mid-‘80s, he fell in love with Linda Louise McCarthy, and they married in 1987. Paul joined The Mitchell Company in 1984 and for nearly thirty years enjoyed a successful career as a real estate developer, serving the company as executive vice-president, general counsel and director before Mayor Sandy Stimpson asked him to be the City of Mobile’s executive finance director in 2013. Paul’s genius for finance and administration made him an invaluable piece of Mayor Stimpson’s revitalization of Mobile, and, in 2016, he became the mayor’s chief-of-staff while continuing to serve as finance director.
Paul previously served as chairman of the Mobile County Republican Party and managed several political campaigns. He was on the Board of Directors of the National Security Group, Inc.; served on the USS Alabama Battleship Commission; and was involved with Camp Rap-a-Hope, St. Mary’s Home for Children, and the University of Alabama President’s Cabinet for many years. He was a beloved member of the Athelstan Club and a member of the Mobile and Alabama Bar Associations. He loved Alabama football.
The Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception will hold a memorial mass at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 4, 2021. Family and close friends are invited to attend. Pallbearers will be Paul Charles “Jay” Wesch, Jr., Colden Benard Wesch, Stephen Benard McCarthy, Kenneth Cecil Kvalheim, Joseph Stewart Dennis, Matthew Joseph Matranga, and Gaines Benard McCarthy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Rapahope Children’s Retreat Foundation (Camp Rap-a-Hope) in memory of Paul. Donations can be entered on the Rapahope website or mailed to: P.O. Box 1427, Mobile, Ala., 36633.