STUTTGART, Germany -- The Stuttgart military community is mourning the loss of Ron Paoletti, longtime Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation employee, thespian, husband and father, who passed away Aug. 29 after suffering a stroke the previous week.
Paoletti, 61, worked for Family and MWR for 37 years.
The Paoletti family -- wife Steffanie, and daughters Jacki and Robin -- shared memories of Ron during a memorial service Sept. 6 in the Kelley Theatre, where he spent much of his time rehearsing roles and directing scenes for plays. U.S. Army Garrison Heidelberg's Roadside Theater, where Ron acted before coming to USAG Stuttgart, also hosted a ceremony Sept. 8.
Paoletti served as an active duty Soldier in the U.S. Army from 1972-'74 as an information specialist and columnist. After an honorable discharge in December 1974, he began his career as a civil servant working as a psychology technician in the Frankfurt youth center.
He went on to work as a recreation specialist for Family and MWR in Frankfurt; Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Schwetzingen and Heidelberg.
Paoletti retired as an appropriated fund employee in 2007, and was subsequently hired by USAG Stuttgart to work as the Community Recreation officer with Family and MWR as a nonappropriated fund employee.
As the overseer for outdoor recreation, arts and crafts, auto crafts, four fitness centers, the entertainment branch and libraries, Paoletti could be seen at many of the community's special events, from fun runs to chili cook-offs.
"He made work fun for his people and all those who were around him, to include myself," said Gregory Holzinger, USAG Stuttgart Family and MWR director. "The energy he brought to our organization -- he came and ... turned us up a notch."
Since Paoletti joined the Stuttgart recreation team, the Arts and Crafts Center was named best in the Army from 2008-2010. In 2008, the Sports and the Fitness program won Best Program for Europe and at the Army level. USAG Stuttgart also won the Outstanding Recreation Program award in 2009 for Europe (large garrison category).
However, "it wasn't just that Ron Paoletti was a supervisor, leader and employee, but he was also a good friend to all in the community," Holzinger added. "It was just always a joy to be around him. He made the environment fun."
In addition to managing the many recreational programs, Paoletti helped train Family and MWR employees along with Christine Charles, the NAF Human Resources officer for USAG Stuttgart. The two taught a class together two days before Paoletti's stroke.
"He was just so full of life and energy," Charles said of her friend and co-worker. "He was just a joy to work with because he was always so positive."
In addition to his official duties, Paoletti was also an avid cyclist, hiker and mountain climber.
However, much of his time after hours was devoted to his passion, theater.
"He loved doing shows," said Richard Roberts, fellow actor and director with the Stuttgart Theatre Center. "Like everyone, theater for him could be a release. It was fun to watch his day melt away."
Since 2007, Paoletti directed "Resident Alien" and "Rumors," and played a variety of roles, including con artist Lawrence Jameson in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."
For his "dream" role as Don Quixote in the 2010 production of "Man of La Mancha," Paoletti received the Army Festival of Arts Award.
"He would light up in rehearsal, whether he was directing or acting," said Roberts, who met Paoletti at the Heidelberg Roadside Theater in 2001.
Paoletti also received several Topper Awards, including Best Sound Design for Comedy for "Rumors" in 2011 and Best Sound for Drama for "The Mouse Trap" in 2009.
But Paoletti's impact reached far beyond his technical expertise; he was a mentor, an inspiration and a close friend, Roberts said.
"There's a memory or funny story from every other day just because he was that kind of guy -- he was incredibly memorable," Roberts said. "I still expect him to walk in the door."
What Roberts will miss most about Paoletti is "the fact that you could be having a bad day and you would spend five minutes with him, and you'd feel better.
"He was always there when you needed him. He was incredibly supportive of everyone and everything."
Paoletti leaves behind his wife of 31 years, Steffanie, and daughters Jacki, 25, and Robin, 23, and twin grandsons Ronan and Colt.
Steffanie is the fitness coordinator for USAG Heidelberg; Jacki works for USAG Ansbach with the Family and MWR recreation program, and Robin is a student at the University of Northern Colorado, where she is pursuing a degree in recreation, tourism and hospitality.
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