Paul Bukstein

LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. -- Paul Bukstein died peacefully in his home Monday, April 19, 2021, at the age of 96.

He was born Oct. 13, 1924, in St. Louis to Oscar and Rose Bukstein.

He attended Washington University for a year before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. He finished college at University of Southern California in 1948.

Paul married Selma Ratner on Sept. 6, 1948. They lived in Los Angeles for two years, where their first son, Don, was born, and Paul worked with Publicity Press. In 1951, they moved to Chaffee, Missouri, where Paul joined his father and brothers in the family business of manufacturing men's slacks. Sons Lee, Roy, Oscar and Barry arrived from 1952 to 1956. In 1963, the family moved to Cape Girardeau. Selma and Paul relocated in 1970 to Mobile, Alabama, where Paul continued in the industry until his retirement.

But life really began when Paul and Selma moved to Laguna Woods in 1992 to join Selma's siblings and their spouses, George and Justine Ratner and Ruth and Bob Slater. Paul kept very busy volunteering with SCORE, becoming a prolific short story writer and graduating from clown college as the beloved Bucko the Orange Clown.

In addition to his wife, Selma, Paul is survived by his sons, Don (Judy) and his children, Ryan (Sarabeth), Trevor, Scott and Kevin Bukstein; Lee (Katharine) and his children, David and Laura Bukstein; Roy (Katherine) and their children, Josh (Laura) Bukstein and Katie (Aaron) Halimi; Oscar (Adrienne) and his children, Eric (Beth) and Rachel (James) Brooks; and Barry (Lisa). Paul was the proud great-grandfather of Emma and Madeline Bukstein, Avery and Quinn Brooks, Theodore and Jonah Bukstein, and Jakob Williams.

Paul's favorite charity was The Bukstein Nursing Endowment Fund, a scholarship fund for deserving nursing students at Saddleback Community College.

To donate online, visit www.jewishorangecounty.org/designated-giving, tap "Select Fund" and select "Bukstein Nursing Endowment Fund." Or send a check to: The Bukstein Nursing Endowment Fund, Jewish Federation & Family Services, 3 Federation Way, Suite 210, Irvine, CA 92603-0174.