Profile Text
Birth Name: Paul Douglas Westphal
Date of Birth: November 30, 1950
Place of Birth: Torrance, Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Death: January 2, 2021
Place of Death: Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Ethnicity: German, more distant Swiss-German
Paul Westphal was an American professional basketball player, coach, and broadcaster. A shooting guard and point guard, he played for the Boston Celtics, the Phoenix Suns, the Seattle SuperSonics, and the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He coached Southwestern Baptist Bible, Grand Canyon, the Phoenix Suns, and also as an assistant; the Seattle SuperSonics, Pepperdine, the Dallas Mavericks, as an assistant; the Sacramento Kings, and the Brooklyn Nets, as an assistant. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 2019. He was 6′4″.
Paul was the son of Ruth Marie and Armin William Karl Westphal. His father was born in Marion, Waupaca County, Wisconsin, to German parents. His mother was born in Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska. He was married to Cindy, with whom he had two children.
Paul’s paternal grandfather was Wilhelm/William Friedrich Hermann Westphal (the son of Wilhelm J. Westphal and Wilhelmine Ernestina Dorothea Ehlert). Wilhelmine was born in Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Paul’s paternal grandmother was Augusta Henrietta Michaelis (the daughter of Carl Wilhelm/William Michaelis and Karoline Henrietta Augusta Hettke/Fettke). Augusta was born in Landkreis Elbe-Elster, Brandenburg.
Paul’s maternal grandfather was Herbert Frank Sallenbach (the son of The Rev. Edward Sallenbach and Rosina Koppenhaver). Herbert was born in Clatonia Township, Gage County, Nebraska. Rosina was born in Pennsylvania.
Paul’s maternal grandmother was Laura Alvina Joekel (the daughter of John Joekel/Jockel, Jr. and Barbara Katherine Diehm). Laura was born in Johnson County, Nebraska. John was born in Warren County, Missouri, to German parents, Johannes “John” Joekel, who was from Hoeckersdorf, Ulrichstein, Hessia; and Caroline Kuhfusz/Kuhfuss. Paul’s great-grandmother Barbara was born in Kenback, Baden, Germany.
Source: Genealogy of Paul Westphal – https://www.findagrave.com