Paul L. Gaurnier, a longtime professor and former associate dean at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration, died February 9 in Tucson, Arizona, according to Sarah Magnus-Sharpe with Cornell University. He was 101.
A decorated educator, administrator, and U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, Gaurnier spent decades shaping hospitality education and extending Cornell’s global reach. He joined the faculty in 1967 and earned tenure in 1973, later serving as associate dean from 1976 to 1978 before retiring in 1986 as professor emeritus.
“Associate Dean Gaurnier was instrumental in shepherding both the hotel school and its student body through the turbulent waters of the 1960s and ’70s,” said Jan deRoos, associate professor emeritus at the Nolan School. “His steady hand and attention to detail were legendary, as was his willingness to engage with students in a meaningful way, always challenging us to be our best.”
Gaurnier taught courses including Principles of Management, Staff Planning, and Operations Analysis: Case Studies in the Hospitality Industry. His graduate classes offered immersive, real-world experiences through site visits to major hotels like the Hyatt Regency and New York Hilton.
Beyond the classroom, Gaurnier led the school’s summer program and oversaw a satellite training initiative in Puerto Rico. His seminars brought him to Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and across Asia, where he worked with hospitality leaders on workforce training and industry growth.
A 1978 interview with The Washington Post captured his vision for the hotel school as “a sort of mecca,” saying, “We were always No. 1, but now we’ve expanded around the world as a leadership symbol.”
Gaurnier’s consulting work—ranging from World Bank reports to training program design—helped define modern hospitality management practices. His influence reached institutions and professionals around the world.
His legacy is preserved in the Paul L. Gaurnier Papers at Cornell University Library, which document his teaching, consulting, and international initiatives from 1968 to 1986.
He was predeceased by his wife, E. Bonney Gaurnier, and son, Larry J. Gaurnier. He is survived by children Jay Gaurnier, Sarah Gaurnier Howe, and Paul Gaurnier.
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