Barbara Read Comstock

Wizard of Oz to Scarecrow: “a heart is not judged by how much ‘you’ love, but by how much you are loved by others.” That equation typified Barbara’s entire life. Those that encountered her on her journey were always struck by her dedication to the goodness in life. The right stuff. Barb was loved by others for this spirit: quick with a smile and a laugh. A pleasure to be around. It made for an impressive network of friends and associates—all who are mourning her passing on June 29th after a courageous battle with Glioblastoma. Barbara had many interests in her life. She was an avid gardener, bicycle enthusiast and hiker. She loved nothing better than finding new hiking trails around Boulder and Rocky Mountain National Park. But above all else, was Barbara’s devotion to animals. She would take injured birds, squirrels and rabbits, or any animal in need of help, to the Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center when she encountered them. She took in a few feral cats over the years giving them a wonderful home. Barbara was born in Los Alamos, N.M. (where her Dad worked as a chemist) in the aftermath of the Manhattan Project that put that little town on the map. The family soon moved back to Upstate New York where Barbara spent her formative years. She attended the University of Buffalo and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She went on to attend Baylor College of Medicine and earned her degree as a Physicians Assistant/PA. She joined Kaiser Permanente April of 1983 and retired in April 2019 after 36 years of service and compassionate care of her patients in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She was a trusted and revered PA by her colleagues, patients and work family alike. She was a true patient advocate. Her smile and laughter will long be remembered by all. Barbara is survived by her brothers David and Steven (Stefani Tadio), nieces Amber Czapranski and Elizabeth Comstock and grandniece River Quinn. She is also survived by her marvelous friends and associates, especially Kathleen Cain, Shelley Zucker and Jeanette Walters who tirelessly and selflessly cared for and supported Barbara through her year and a half ordeal with the Glioblastoma. Finally, a touching remembrance by Barbara’s friend Linda Sihu Yellin: “A hole in my heart; saying goodbye is never easy. It seems we must part dear Barbara. We met as roommates on High Street in Boulder in 1975; her fresh out of college, me looking to settle down. We both shared a vegetarian kitchen with other seekers of the way while struggling to find our future careers. Barbara, born in Los Alamos, her father a scientist, her mother a teacher. She was the oldest child with two brothers. I’m so glad to share some childhood memories with her, then onward into so-called adulthood. We spent a lot of time listening to music, even dancing on the tables, meditating, attending Naropa classes, then she went to P.A. school in Houston, returning we would go cross country skiing, dinner parties and more music, movies, holidays, laughing, living life & more work. As a P.A. in Boulder, before Barbara retired she basically ran the OB/GYN dept. Her patients were her first priority. Her pets & care for animals a close 2nd. Now dear friend I’m sure gonna miss you, but keep to the light, spread your wings to fly until we meet again on the other side. Kahil Gibran’s poem on ‘Death’: ‘For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered? Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then you shall truly dance.’” In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (greenwoodwildlife.org) in Barbara’s memory. A Celebration of Barbara’s Life will be held at Howe Mortuary & Crematory (439 Coffman St. Longmont, CO 80501) on July 22nd at 2:00 p.m.