Paulette Whitcomb

All-States Cremation - Centennial

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“Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?” Hamilton: An American Musical Paulette Salto Whitcomb 1/15/35 – 12/21/20 How do we do justice, with words, to the life of a beloved parent, or anyone for that matter? Paulette was one of a kind. She was a passionate people collector, gifted writer, and talented editor and did not suffer fools gladly. She had a great sense of humor and cared deeply about her family. Nature, politics, and world history were of high interest to her. She was a voracious reader and curious about everything. Cheering the Denver Broncos and Colorado Avalanche alongside George was another passion of hers. What a cook and entertainer as well! She truly seemed ageless until she lost the love of her life, George Whitcomb. After that, she still lived her life to its fullest, but she was never quite the same. This obituary is an attempt to do her life justice. Hopefully, there are no grammatical errors, as we imagine she will make her feelings about this known to us somehow. She always did have a short fuse.

Paola-Maria Ada Roberta Salto was born in Rome, Italy, on January 15, 1935, to Antoinette and Isaac Salto. Due to the political unrest and looming threat of Hitler, the Saltos were planning to emigrate to the United States in 1940. When World War II started earlier than expected, they ended up stuck in Italy for the duration of the war. Paulette and her younger brother David were exposed to the dangers of the war for much of their childhood. She never talked about this until much later in life. In 1946, the family came to the United States and settled in Washington, DC. Her parents had a rule that they would live only in capital (nation, not state) cities. Paulette entered junior high at age eleven with English being her fourth language. Her first languages were Italian, French, and Spanish. In 1950 she graduated from Central High School at age fifteen. She became a proud US citizen in 1956. She was brilliant.

Paulette attended The George Washington University (GW) in Washington, DC, for both her BA and MA degrees in International Affairs. She was a writer and editor at The Hatchet (GW’s newspaper) and participated in the International Club and Sailing Club and played field hockey. The Hatchet won an All-American award while she was the editor. Her byline was “Pepper” Salto.

Paulette started her career as a program officer for the Fulbright and Smith-Mundt Lecturing and Post-Doctoral Research Committee in Washington, DC. One night she attended a meeting of the Foggy Bottom Sports Car Club (GW’s sports car club) and met George Whitcomb. He went home and wrote to his parents, “I have met The Girl. . .” Paulette went home and told her mother that when a George Whitcomb calls, “Please tell him I’ve left to work in Paris.” Ah. They got engaged on their fifth date and were married on September 12, 1959. They spent their honeymoon in Buffalo Creek, Colorado.

Matthew Seabury was born in July 1960 and Isabel Louise was born in March 1964. In the summer of 1966, after George finished law school at GW, they moved to Colorado. It was one of their long-standing dreams. Jennifer Paula was born in August 1966. Paulette continued to stay busy with George and the kids, writing, the Alfa Romeo car club, gardening, cooking, climbing, and backpacking. They frequently hosted international guests, as well as many parties. George, Paulette, and the kids also climbed a lot of Fourteeners. Backpacking and camping were frequent summer activities. Cross-country skiing in the winter was also wonderful. They even led middle school students on school-sponsored backpacking trips to the bottom of the Grand Canyon when the girls were in middle school. Spontaneously taking off to New Mexico for the balloon festival was not an unheard of occurrence. Paulette also traveled to many countries for work during her writing and editing career, and she and George traveled a great deal together as well. They loved adventure.

Paulette’s career was a large part of her identity. She started doing public relations and communications work in 1974 with the National Cattlemen’s Association. She then was the managing editor of Oil & Gas Investor. Colorado Business Magazine lured her away, and there she worked as a managing editor, writer, and columnist. She later returned to Hart Publications and became a founding editor of Natural Gas Focus. She worked on many magazines at Hart until the company relocated to Houston. Paulette stayed in Colorado and continued her career with Petroleum Place and expanded her freelance career by editing numerous articles, journals, and books. In 1998, she co-wrote a book with J. C. Whorton called Power Play: Who’s in Control of the Energy Revolution?

After her time at Petroleum Place, she continued her freelance editing and writing, and she added language class instruction. She always had a full plate. She taught Italian classes at the local recreation centers and the Arvada Center, and she taught private lessons as well. She formed many wonderful relationships with her students. She also remained active in politics and was an advocate for many organizations. She was a news junkie. She loved reading, going to museums, watching sports, nature, and gardening and enjoyed long conversations and gatherings with friends and family.

Sadly, the evil disease Alzheimer’s stole Paulette’s brilliant brain. Her last two years were spent in memory care. In December 2020, COVID-19 was the catalyst for Paulette to stop eating and leave this earth on December 21, 2020.

Paulette is preceded in death by her brother and parents and her husband George (2012). She is survived by her three children: Matthew (Julie) and granddaughter Mollie; Isabel (Robert) and granddaughters Abigail (Ryan), Natalie (Joe), Margaret, and Rachel; and Jennifer (Jeffery) and grandson Trevor and granddaughter Lily.

She prided herself on her vast network of friends and family. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy. Everyone should have such a champion in their lives who believe they can and will do anything they set their minds to. She will be terribly missed. Ciao Bella!

Celebration of Life: 6/27/21

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Paulette Whitcomb Obituary | Altogether