Woolard

Paul Woolard

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Paul Woolard, former president of Revlon Cosmetics and Fragrances who was a co-founder and avid supporter of the Inner-City Scholarship Fund, died Jan. 10 at his home. He was 89.

His more than 40 years of leadership and support for the Inner-City Scholarship Fund (ICSF) enabled hundreds of thousands of inner-city children to attend Catholic schools in the archdiocese. He was honored with the annual ICSF Award in 1982 and 2006.

Mr. Woolard joined the Cardinal’s Committee for Education at the request of Cardinal Cooke. In 1971, the committee evolved into the executive council of ICSF. He also served as a member of ICSF’s board of trustees.

Mr. Woolard co-founded both the Patrons Program and WRENS (Working to Raise Educational Norms of Students). He was instrumental in the adoption of St. James School in Manhattan by his parish, St. Vincent Ferrer in Manhattan.

He was named a Papal Knight of St. Gregory the Great in 2006.

In his professional life, he worked in the fragrance industry as a trainee for Prince Matchabelli and rose to become president in 1957. In 1962, he came to Revlon as senior vice president. He went on to be named president of Revlon U.S. and then president of Revlon Cosmetics and Fragrances Worldwide. He retired in 1986.

Mr. Woolard received honors, among many others, from the March of Dimes, the UJA Federation Joint Appeal and Columbia College’s John Jay Award for Business Achievement. In 1988, he received an honorary degree from Marymount College in Virginia.

He was a graduate of St. Gregory the Great School and De La Salle Institute, both in Manhattan. He held a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Columbia College.

He served for three years during World War II as an Army Air Corps pilot.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth, and his sons, Capt. Richard and Kevin, and his daughters, Moira Thiele and Elizabeth van Merkensteijn, 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass was offered Jan. 15 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Burial was in Gate of Heaven, Hawthorne.

Paul Woolard