Elaine Zupancic

Claire Elaine Zupancic, 83, always known as Elaine, was born in Walsenburg, CO, on May 31, 1942 and was raised in Pueblo. After a 17-year battle with multiple myeloma, she died February 28, 2026, spending the last couple of weeks of her life at her sister’s home in Colorado Springs.

Elaine was the daughter of Mike Zupancic and Ida Dalpiaz Zupancic. She attended St. Francis Xavier Grade School and graduated from PCH (Pueblo Catholic High) in 1960. She then attended Pueblo Junior College and later transferred to Colorado State Teachers' College (now University of Northern Colorado) where she graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Social Studies.

Elaine taught high school English at South High School in Pueblo for a year and several years in Porterville, CA.

In 1973, Elaine received her Masters in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Oregon in Eugene. She moved to the San Jose area and worked for the Santa Clara County Alternative School system where she counseled at-risk youth.

After retiring in 1999 she worked part-time at Santa Clara University where she supervised student teachers.

In 2002 she moved to Denver to be closer to family.

Elaine was always politically active, a member of the National Women’s Political Caucus, a local political precinct coordinator, and was a graduate of the Citizens’ Academy of both the San Jose and Denver Police Departments.

She was a volunteer at Rose Medical Center and a member of the Rose Medical Center Institutional Research Review Board (IRB). She loved her Mayfair neighborhood and was active in the neighborhood association.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents and parents and her brother-in-law, Sam Walter. She is survived by her sisters Marilynn Zupancic (Dee Demers), Anita Walter, Lois Glenn, nephew Christopher Walter (Samantha), niece Lindsey Walter and great-nephew, Joshua.

There will be no service, per Elaine’s request.

If you would like to make a donation in Elaine’s memory, please consider three organizations that were important to her: Planned Parenthood, Southern Poverty Law Center and the International Myeloma Foundation (myeloma.org).