Paul Longnecker

Paul David Longenecker, age 67, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away on August 26, 2025, with his family by his side. Born on October 21, 1957, Paul lived a life devoted to his family, lifelong love of learning and teaching, and service to others.

He was born on October 21, 1957, in Toledo, Ohio, to Clint and Rita Longenecker. He grew up in a close-knit family that valued hard work, education, and service to others—principles that shaped the course of his life.

Paul’s academic journey began with an Associate Degree in Nursing from Michael J. Owens Technical College (1977), followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and an MBA in Health Care Administration and Management—both from the University of Toledo—completed in 1982 and 1989, respectively. In 2004, he received his PhD in Health Administration at Kennedy-Western University.

Paul began a lifelong passion for healthcare and education as a nurse at St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, serving for 14 years and earning recognition for his excellence in patient care and leadership as a Head Nurse. He later became Executive Director of FairHoPe Hospice and Palliative Care, where he expanded services, built community partnerships, and led a $7 million campaign to construct a new inpatient hospice facility. In 1996, Paul founded The Transformational Group, LLC, where for nearly three decades he provided consulting in leadership development, strategic planning, and healthcare ethics for hospitals, nonprofits, and healthcare organizations.

Alongside his executive and consulting work, Paul was a gifted teacher and mentor. He taught at Ohio University, Lourdes University, and his alma mater, The University of Toledo, before joining Otterbein University in 2012. At Otterbein, he served as Graduate Faculty, Director of the Master of Science in Allied Health (MSAH) program, Interim Director, and Senior Instructor in the Department of Health & Sport Sciences.

In 2021, he extended his teaching internationally as a Visiting Professor at the University of Szeged in Hungary, where he taught courses on leadership and well-being. Beginning in 2019, he also led graduate students to Hungary for the American Summer Institute, strengthening global academic ties and enriching students’ education through cross-cultural leadership and wellness initiatives.

Paul devoted more than two decades to hospice and palliative care, becoming a trusted voice for compassionate end-of-life support. He served on the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) Ethics Committee, where he co-developed the NHPCO MDP Ethics module in 2005 and taught as faculty from its inception, shaping standards of ethical practice nationwide. A frequent conference speaker, he guided professionals in navigating the challenges of patient care with dignity and respect.

As a scholar, Paul contributed extensively to healthcare literature with a focus on hospice ethics, organizational culture, and leadership. His published works include The Ethical Balance of Hospice Care (Home Healthcare Nurse), The Ethical Challenges of Hospice Managers (NHPCO National Center Newsline), The Positive Impact of Individual Core Values (Journal of Business Ethics), and several influential studies on hospice leadership. His writings continue to inform both academic and professional communities.

Paul’s leadership and scholarship were recognized through numerous honors, including the Faculty Excellence Award at Lourdes University, the Lancaster-Fairfield Chamber Small Business Week Award, the United Way Campaign Chairman’s Recognition Award, the Value Added Performance Award at Intensiva Hospital of Columbus, and the President’s Award for Excellence in Management at St. Vincent Medical Center.

Paul and his brother, Dr. Clinton O. Longenecker, received the Edgar C. Hayhow Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) for their co-authored article, “Why Hospital Improvement Efforts Fail: A View From the Front Line,” which has been widely cited in the field of healthcare management.

Outside of his family and professional life, Paul was a passionate tri-athlete and adventurer. He spent much of his adult life running, biking, and swimming. His love for the water also led him to serve as a lifeguard at the Westerville Community Center pool.

Paul was also an early ElliptiGO enthusiast, embracing the innovative outdoor elliptical bicycle. Always eager for new challenges, he proudly became the first rider in the state of Ohio to test ride the ElliptiGO, blending his love of cycling with his lifelong commitment to health and wellness.

Together with his wife, Susan, Paul found great joy in camping and traveling in their motor home. He also loved hiking, with a special fondness for time spent on the Appalachian Trail, where he felt both challenged and renewed by nature.

Paul is survived by his devoted wife, Susan Longenecker, whose steadfast love and care were a constant source of strength. The Longenecker family is deeply grateful for the tenderness and unwavering presence she gave Paul, especially during his final month, when she remained faithfully by his side.

Paul is survived by his devoted wife, Susan Longenecker, whose love and care were a constant source of strength; along with his children, Chris Longenecker (Katie), Laura Longenecker, and Adam Longenecker (Kirstee), and by their mother, Donna Fulton Longenecker; his stepchildren, Jeff Easterwood (Dana) and Jennifer Easterwood; his beloved grandchildren Katelynn and Christopher and his step grandchildren Lexi, Chloe, Ava, Trenton, Caleb, Jensen, and Lyndon. He is also survived by his siblings, Marsha Hunt (Warren), Dr. Clint Longenecker (Cindy), and Rick Longenecker (Debbie). He was preceded in death by his parents, Clint and Rita Longenecker.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 13, at 11:00 a.m. at Central College Presbyterian Church, 975 S. Sunbury Road, Westerville, OH 43081. A celebration of Paul’s life will follow at the American Legion Young-Budd Post 171, 393 E. College Avenue, Westerville, OH 43081.

For friends and family traveling from Northwest Ohio and across the country, accommodations are conveniently available near Polaris Parkway in Westerville at the Fairfield Inn, Four Points Sheraton, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Homewood Suites, and Hyatt Place.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial contributions to Franklinton Cycle Works, 897 W. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43222, (614) 228-1852. Paul deeply admired their mission of transforming donated parts into bicycles for adults and children in need, providing not only essential transportation but also the simple joy of riding.

Paul’s life was one of purpose, generosity, and deep connection. He gave his best to his patients, students, colleagues, and community, but above all, to his family. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched, the leaders he mentored, and the love he shared so freely. Those who knew him will remember his compassion, his curiosity, his adventurous spirit, and his unwavering belief in the power of service to others.

Though Paul’s earthly journey has ended, the impact of his life endures—in his family, in the healthcare field, and in the many people who were blessed to walk beside him. His was a life well lived, and he will be forever loved and missed.