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 Blair, Paulette Vitrier (Crabtree, Schindler)
April 8, 1937 - April 28, 2012
Paulette Vitrier (Crabtree, Schindler) Blair, 75, who died after a long and courageous battle with cancer, now rests peacefully with our Lord. She will be remembered for her strength, determination, humor, caring and love of live.
Paulette was a life-long Sarasotan, and the only child of Herve Paul Vitrier of Cannes, France, and Clarice West, of Virginia. She attended Sarasota High School, Stephens College in Columbia Missouri, and George Washington University in Washington D.C., majoring in International Economics and Foreign Affairs. She later did graduate work at Harvard.
Paulette's political career was extensive. She served as a Republican committeewoman for 10 years beginning in 1960, and was elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1968 for the 7th Congressional District. Paulette also served as Secretary, Vice Chair, and then Chair of the Republican Party of Sarasota. President Nixon appointed her Chair of the White House Conference of Children and Youth for Sarasota County and asked her to prepare an in-depth study of local needs.
Paulette is perhaps best known, however, for her philanthropic work, which began in 1960 following her father's death from cancer. She organized and supervised the first fundraising effort on Siesta Key for the American Cancer Society that same year. She also served as a board member of the Asolo Theater Festival Association and the Council on Epilepsy in 1970. As the years progressed, she was always happy to direct money, time, and resources to the right charitable organizations.
Paulette served as President of the Junior League of Sarasota (1976-1977); Chair of the United Way of Sarasota County; Chair of the Salvation Army Advisory Board of Sarasota (2010-2011)--and member of the Board for 25 years; President of New College Library Association; Chair of the Library Association's Mistletoe Ball; Vice-Chair of the Sarasota County Historical Commission; Co-chair of the Governor's Ball held at the Ringling Museum in 1997; Chair of the Sarasota Opera opening Gala in 1993; a member of the Sarasota Ballet Board 1996-1999; a member of the WEDU board; a member of the Century Club of Sarasota Memorial Hospital; a Pan American Bank board member; a founder of Keel Club; and a member of the Founders Garden Club and The Field Club.
Paulette was responsible for starting several popular fundraisers: While serving as Chair of the New College Library Association, she established the Pique-nique sur la Baie, which celebrated its 28th year in 2011. While serving on the Salvation Army Board, she established the Glitz at the Ritz luncheon--a fundraiser for the Salvation Army of Sarasota. As President of the Junior League of Sarasota, she chaired the first Tour of Homes in 1977.
She was selected as Junior League Sustainer of the Year in 2000. In recognition of her many years of volunteerism, leadership, and philanthropic fundraising, she was selected as the Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer of the year in 2008, a National Philanthropic Award presented by the Association of Fund Raising Professionals. In 2011, she was awarded the Salvation Army's special designation of Advisory Board Life Membership.
Her resume also includes 10 years of teaching at St. Martha's and Incarnation Schools--during which time she often served as a volunteer speech coach for the Optimist Oratory contests. She was co-owner and co-founder of "Sashay Around", a women's retail business in Cashiers, North Carolina, and St. Armands Key, Sarasota, Florida. She founded and owned "Souleiado" in Chagrin Falls, Ohio-a boutique featuring products from Provence, France. She was Director of Development for the Prew Preparatory School and Chair of Resource Development for the Gulf Coast Zoological Society.
Paulette is survived by her husband, Don Blair; her children, Michelle Crabtree of Sarasota and John Crabtree of Key Biscayne, Florida; her grandchildren, Chadwick Mahle of Miami Beach, and Faith Elizabeth Crabtree and John Granville Crabtree Jr. of Key Biscayne; her son-in-law, Larry Davenport; her daughter-in-law, Erin Dunaway Crabtree; her step-children, Cindy Blair Woodling and Dale Woodling of Siesta Key, Florida; Marie Christine and Scott Blair of Paris, France; and a multitude of good friends.
Paulette's parish, Saint Thomas More, is undergoing renovation so Mass will be held on Saturday, May 5th, 10 at Incarnation Church, 2929 Bee Ridge Road, followed by a celebration of Life.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army of Sarasota, P.O. Box 2792, Sarasota, Florida 34230. Toale Brothers is handling the arrangements.
Published in Herald Tribune from May 2 to May 5, 2012
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