Scott Charles Pellegrini

1952 - 2023

Scott Charles Pellegrini died tragically last January at his home in Lafayette. Born in 1952, he was the second child of Joan and Paul Pellegrini in Chicago. At a young age, Scott showed a proclivity for artistry and architecture and created a clubhouse for himself & his friends, complete with joists, studs and headers, at only ten years of age. After moving to Boulder, Scott started taking courses in Art History & Architecture at the University of Colorado. Scott's innate charm and progressive politics were a perfect fit as he pursued university work study that brought him to the Colorado Daily, which started his drawing career. He did a number of illustrations, along with creating a political comic strip Private Sector which ran at least 2 years. That was followed by doing art for CU's yearbook, The Coloradan, and many other freelance work, including the Denver weekly, Westword and at the local magazine Boulder Lampoon, published in the mid-1980s. He also started creating and publishing graphic novels, which included, Air Boy, a clever remake of WWII propaganda involving pilots; The Rocky Mountain Fire Lizard; and America Man. His work was often was political and social commentary. Scott's day job was at the CU's Norlin Library, working in circulation and interlibrary loans. Intelligent and friendly, he mentored students, providing a good role mode as "the adult in the room." While he could be a good friend and neighbor, Scott kept many people at a distance. Although most friends and colleagues were unaware, Scott had a number of medical and financial burdens. As with many family and friends who are left behind after suicide, we are left grasping for answers, wondering if we might have done more to have prevented him from taking his own life. Scott's parents preceded him in death. He is survived his wife of over 30 years, Jackie Hillis, along with his sister Donna Pellegrini-Shuford of Boulder, and Donna's two sons Daniel and Johnathan, along with Scott's two half-brothers, Shawn and Todd. A Celebration of Life will take place on August 13 for people who knew him - send email to surmonk@gmail.com if interested.In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to suicide prevention programs.