Paul L. Gaurnier ’50, M.S. ’56, emeritus professor and former associate dean in the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration, died Feb. 9 in Tucson, Arizona. He was 101.

A distinguished alumnus, educator and administrator, Gaurnier earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in hotel and restaurant management from the School of Hotel Administration. After graduating, he served in the United States Army in administrative and operational roles, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1967, he returned to Cornell to join the hotel school’s faculty as an assistant professor and was granted tenure in 1973.

From 1976-78, he served as associate dean and continued teaching until his retirement in 1986, when he was named professor emeritus.

 “Associate Dean Guarnier 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.”

Throughout his career, Guarnier played an influential role in shaping hospitality education at Cornell. His semesterlong graduate courses offered students immersive, real-world learning experiences, including site visits to the Hyatt Regency, New York Hilton and Sheraton Boston. These visits provided students with firsthand insight into corporate management philosophies, staffing strategies, and the design and construction of large-scale hospitality facilities.

Principles of Management; Staff Planning; and Operations Analysis: Case Studies in the Hospitality Industry were among the courses he taught. 

Guarnier’s work extended well beyond students on campus. He directed the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Summer School and led the school’s satellite training program in Puerto Rico. Through seminars, he connected with hospitality industry leaders in Columbia, Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong, Japan and other countries. 

 In a 1978 interview with The Washington Post, Gaurnier described the Hotel School – then with 625 students – as “a sort of mecca,” noting, “We were always No. 1, but now we’ve expanded around the world as a leadership symbol.” 

In addition to his influence as a university administrator and professor, Gaurnier contributed to the field of hotel and restaurant management through consultancy work across the U.S. and around the world. His reports for the World Bank and hotel organizations covered wide-ranging topics such as workforce development, training program design, tourism infrastructure, and operational planning in domestic and international contexts.  

Gaurnier’s work as a dedicated educator and consultant helped globalize hospitality management education, develop industry best practices and disseminate expertise around the world. His work influenced a growth period in the evolution of hotel and restaurant management education and the industry itself.

The Paul L. Gaurnier Papers, housed at the Cornell University Library’s Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, encompass correspondence, seminars, course materials, program development and consultant reports from 1968-86, reflecting the broad scope and influence of Gaurnier’s contributions. His papers serve as a valuable resource for scholars interested in the history of hotel administration, experiential learning models, and the intersection of academia and industry in service-sector development.

Gaurnier was predeceased by his wife, E. Bonney Gaurnier, and his son, Larry J. Gaurnier. He is survived by his children Jay Gaurnier, Sarah Gaurnier Howe and Paul Gaurnier. 

Sarah Magnus-Sharpe is director of public relations and communications at the SC Johnson College of Business.