Paul Tople at photographer Ron Kuner's retirement

Photographer Paul Tople, Kent State grad involved in three BJ Pulitzers, passed away today after a brief stay at Cleveland Clinic’s Akron General Justin T. Rogers Hospice Care Center on Ridgewood Road in Akron.

His widow is Sally Tople.

The three Pulitzers were for Kent State, Goodyear and Question of Color. Paul won so many Cleveland Press Club first places that they should have named the award after him.

Paul’s BJ friends have tales that highlight his qualities:

Bob Springer recalls Paul’s reassuring presence during news events:

“The day Jeffrey Dahmer was murdered in prison in Wisconsin, Paul and I ran out to Medina Line Road to see if Dahmer's father was home. He and Dahmer's stepmother were both home. It was an emotionally awkward interview. 

"I am so glad to this day that Paul was with me. His compassion, gentleness and demeanor really drew out the best of the Dahmers in a difficult circumstance. Thank you, Paul."

James Carney reveals Paul’s sensitivity:

“So one day we had a big snowstorm and school was cancelled. Paul and I went out looking for a story. At Big Bend skating pond we found it. An older gentleman was skating figure 8s alone on the frozen pond. Just him and the pond and us watching. 

"Turned into a great little sense of place story with a beautiful Tople portrait of the man skating.”

Susan Gippin remembers Paul’s personal touch:

“I don't remember going on assignment with Paul often. But I do remember when I was ginormous with child in 1989, Paul knew I wanted a photo to show my daughter when she grew up.

“One day, he took me back into the inner sanctum of the BJ photo studio and shot a few frames.

“A few days later, he showed up at my desk with a perfectly composed black and white photo of me in maternitywear sitting crosslegged on the floor -- giant belly and all.

“I still have that photo. And fond memories of sweet, thoughtful Paul."

Mike Cardew, later a BJ photographer, recalls being welcomed to the club by a giant of a man:

“Paul was the first photographer from the Beacon Journal I met. It was Easter and I was finishing up as the intern for The Cincinnati Enquirer. We were at Lucasville covering the riots.”

Paul’s first wife, Terri Kyttler Tople, passed away in 2008 after battling systemic lupus for decades. They had been married for 36 years. She taught learning disabled children in Akron public schools for 18 years.

Paul later married Sally, previously Ted Schneider’s wife.

Paul’s son, Mike, is married to Jamie Tople. Paul’s other son, Ed, is married to Jenny.

Paul took the BJ photo of photographer John Filo and Mary Vecchio, subject of the 1970 Kent State/National Guard shootings that brought Filo a Pulitzer, at their 2009 May 4 reunion on the Kent State campus.

Norton High graduate Paul was a senior at Kent State in 1970. He was working part-time for the Beacon Journal and was associate editor of the Chestnut Burr, the Kent State yearbook. The BJ used his photos of the shootings on May 4. In 1977 he was promoted to BJ assistant chief photographer under Bill Hunter.

Paul was on the Stater staff with Stu Feldstein, Terry Oblander, Chuck Ayers, Rich Zitrin and copy editor Paula Stone Tucker. All of them wound up working at Ol’ Blue Walls. 

Ken Krause, former BJ sports editor who lives in Medford, Massachussetts, forwarded these Tower Topics articles that further illuminate Paul's remarkable personality: