Dr. Paul W. Knoll died peacefully at his home in Mukilteo surrounded by his family on Aug. 5, 2008, after a courageous battle with cancer. Paul was born in Corvallis, Ore., on Sept. 3, 1950, the oldest son of Robert Paul and Eleanor Ann (Thorne) Knoll. He graduated from Mercer Island High School.

Paul received his B.S. in honors physics from the University of Washington. On a blind date in 1970, Mary Margaret McCauley stole his heart, and he hers, and they were married in 1971 in Seattle. Paul earned his M.D. degree and did internship and residency training in internal medicine at the University of Washington, and his postgraduate fellowship in medical oncology at the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Dr. Knoll practiced medical oncology in Everett, first in solo practice and then adding partners as Everett Hematology /Oncology Associates and Western Washington Medical Group. Most recently he was part of the Providence Regional Cancer Partnership. He was also a medical director of Hospice of Snohomish County for 27 years. As part of Western Washington Medical Group, Dr. Knoll cared for many cancer patients at Whidbey General Hospital from 1997 to 2007.

Paul was a founding member of the Mercer Island United Methodist Church, and a long-time member of Everett First United Methodist Church. He was a fine baritone singer in the choirs of both churches.

Paul was a true renaissance man and philosopher who had a never ending intellectual curiosity and a passion for learning on a wide variety of subjects. He loved travel, Italy, opera, geography and trivia. A kid at heart, he loved Disneyland, Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies and his sheltie, Tasha. Above all, he was a very loving person to his patients, friends, colleagues and family.

In June 2003, Dr. Knoll was given the “Angel of Hospice” award by Hospice of Snohomish County and in 2008 he was named Washington State Hospice and Home Care Association Physician of the Year.

Paul is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Mary; his daughter, Annemarie; son, Robert; mother, Ann Knoll; brothers, David, John (Sue) and Mark (Phyllis); brother-in-law, Charles McCauley; and nieces and nephews, Joseph, Patrick and Michelle McCauley, Jeremy (Bridget), Johanna and Kiera Knoll and Catherine (Ben) Phillips.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Amy; and his father, Robert Paul Knoll.

Memorials are suggested to the Dr. Paul W. Knoll Endowment Fund for the Hospice Care Center, 2731 Wetmore, Suite 500, Everett, or The Everett Symphony, 2710 Colby Ave., Everett, or the First United Methodist Church (Organ Fund), 3530 Colby, Everett.