Paul B. Haley, a successful businessman, family man, avid golfer, and horse fanatic, passed away peacefully Oct. 13, 2021. He was 83.
Paul was born in Joliet, where he spent his formative years. He graduated from St. Raymond’s and Joliet Catholic High School, where he developed life-long friendships. In 1960, Paul graduated from Xavier University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing.
After XU, Paul spent six months in the U.S. Army at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Paul was honorably discharged and began his career as a field advertising manager at Procter and Gamble. In 1968 he joined Glendinning Companies, a marketing and sales promotion consulting firm in Westport, Conn.
Three years later, Paul and two of his associates left to start their company, Marketing Corporation of America. Building on MCA’s success, Paul led multiple sales divisions of the company including MCA Advertising, BFD Coupon Inserts, and Newspaper Co-Op Couponing.
He was known as a true leader in the field of advertising. His colleagues and friends referred to him as “Flash” due to his ability to get the job done at record speed.
In 1986, Paul and Dan Pratt, his dear friend, and co-manager of MCA, started a two-man marketing consulting firm called Haley, Pratt & Associates. They shared six successful years until Paul retired (the first time) in 1992. He soon realized retired life was not for him; Paul then led a marketing firm, Marketing Force in Bloomfield, Mich.
Paul finally retired (the last time), filling his days playing golf and following the market. He split his time between Hobe Sound, Fla., and Westmont. Paul enjoyed playing golf with close friends. He was a member at several clubs — The Connecticut Golf Club, The Patterson Club in Fairfield, Conn., and Loblolly Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla.
While business was Paul’s focus, his family was equally as important to him. In 1956, he met the love of his life, Janet. They raised a family in Connecticut, traveled the world and had lots of laughs along the way.
His family and friends will miss his quick wit, amazing smile and generosity.
Paul is survived by his wife of 57 years, Janet; his daughters, Jennifer (Matt) Howland and Lyn (Chip) Burgess; his grandchildren, DeForest, Max, Henry and Jake Howland, and Charlie and Jack Burgess; and his brother, Peter C. (Ellen Shuck) Haley.
A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, at Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church, 1S314 Summit Avenue, Oakbrook Terrace.
Interment will follow at Bronswood Cemetery in Oak Brook.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Angels Grace Hospice at https://www.angelsgracehospice.com/donate/
or Hinsdale Hospital Foundation — Hinsdale Family Medical Center at https://www.amitahealth.org/giving/make-a-gift/make-a-gift-amita-health-adventist-medical-center-hinsdale.
Sullivan Funeral Home in Hinsdale handled the arrangements.
