Vancouver philanthropist Paul Christensen, widely praised for his commitment to children’s enrichment and the arts, died Thursday. He was 91.

Beyond his generous monetary donations, Christensen advanced the community with his positive, infectious energy, said those who worked with him.

Whenever someone asked Christensen how he was doing, he would respond, “Fan-tastic!” said Ron Arp, president of Identity Clark County. Christensen helped found the nonprofit in 1993 and was its longest serving board member.

“His life cast a very long shadow. He’s one of the many people in our community who have invested deeply into making this a wonderful place to land and live,” Arp said. “We are saddened with his passing yet, at the same time, celebrate an incredible career and life.”

Lasting legacy

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