Paul A. McDonald, the first executive director hired by Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) officially left his post yesterday after four years of leading Harvard’s largest public service organization.

McDonald, who was known for his selflessness, his quiet leadership, and his remarkable resemblance to both Santa Claus and Ernest Hemingway, announced his resignation on September 23.

McDonald said he is ready to return to his first love—working with special-needs children—as director of development at The Cotting School in Lexington, Mass.

Although McDonald has a strong background in child social work, he said his decision also reflects a desire for more free time.

“PBHA is a complicated organization with three separate identities—it’s a nonprofit group, a student group, and a department within the college—and that can be a lot to handle at times,” said McDonald.

The position of PBHA executive director was created in 1997 as part of an agreement between PBHA and Harvard College to provide better accountability. As executive director, McDonaldbridged the gap between students and staff at PBHA, a student-run organization that is professionally supported. He arrived at PBHA in 1998, a tense and tumultuous time for organization, when friction between the University and the PBHA student leaders led to protests and frequent staff turnover.

“Paul made peace when he came here,” said PBHA President Laura E. Clancy ’02-’03. “He hired new staff members and supported the students in their autonomy.”

“In any organization as complex as PBHA, there are always issues—Paul stabilized the organization as soon as he arrived,” said Judith H. Kidd, assistant dean of Phillips Brooks House.

PBHA Deputy Director Maria J. Dominguez agreed. “He completely rebuilt and healed the staff here,” she said. “There is hardly any turnover now.”

McDonald is only the second major staff member to leave PBHA in the past four years.

McDonald is lauded for his powerful sense of dedication to his work, his promotion of student leadership, and his random acts of kindness.

“If a student’s parents got sick or something, he would just whip out his checkbook and write them a check for a plane ticket,” said PBHA President Laura E. Clancy ’02-’03.

McDonald has also been known to lend his Cape Cod house to service groups for retreats. He also ran errands, large and small, for events.

McDonald cultivated an intimate atmosphere at PBHA. Some staff members and students even referred to him as their part-time psychologist or mentor.

“He made everyone feel valued,” said Dominguez.