Vincent Paul Orlando

This devastating loss of such a vibrant, active, YOUNG 77-year old has been deeply felt. He will be remembered for his unending, generous ability to love and forgive; his outgoing, friendly, and adventurous spirit; his contagious laughter; and his sentimental nature. He loved his family deeply and continued to nurture his Pennsylvania roots by visiting family and friends often. He was also proud of his Italian heritage, reconnecting and visiting with relatives still in Italy.

Vince was born January 25, 1948 to Florence Rachel Paone and Charles Joseph Orlando in Carbondale, Pennsylvania and grew up in Mayfield, PA. After graduating from St. Rose High School in 1965 he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Scranton. This was followed by a Master of Education in 1974 from Bloomsburg State College and finally a Doctor of Philosophy: Curriculum and Instruction in 1978 from Pennsylvania State University. After a short time teaching 8th grade Math in New Jersey, he went on to teach at Oberlin College. He then spent 24 years as a Professor of Reading at Metro State University of Denver. During his time at Metro he chaired both the Reading and Teacher Education departments.

Throughout his career he was very active in the College Reading and Learning Association, serving as president from 1996 - 1997. He also served as a member of Metro’s Athletic Hall of Fame Committee. He received the Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding service to Metro in 1995 as well as a Special Recognition Award in 1993 from the College Reading and Learning Association.

His experience as an educator provided many opportunities for adventure. While at Metro, he traveled to China twice to teach college students English. After retiring, he spent 9 months in New Orleans providing guidance to the Southern University at New Orleans College of Education in their accreditation process.

Whether it was exercise class, running, biking, hiking, snowshoeing, or admiring wildflowers, Vince deeply loved being active and outdoors. This fed his soul and nurtured his relationships. He ran marathons in New York and Colorado and a half marathon in Paris. He climbed all of Colorado’s 14ers—many of them several times! He had a deep desire to share the inspiration of 14ers with others. For the many years he mentored Metro’s basketball team, he organized and led players on team-building camping trips to climb 14ers! He had a passion for getting up high, soaking up the views, and taking in the wildflowers (he enjoyed identifying them and his phone was filled with wildflower pictures!). While out hiking he would often stop to talk to strangers, reminding us that the destination isn’t the end of a journey but the journey itself.

Vince also enjoyed exploring the world through travel and visited Canada, China, Latin America, Europe and Africa. In the early 2000s he participated in Metro’s archaeological dig in northern Peru. His love of climbing led him to summit El Misti in Arequipa, Peru (19,100 feet) in 2007 as well as Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (19,200 feet) in 2012 when he was 64. With his wife Catherine and their son Charles, he adventurously peddled the Pacific Northwestern part of the U.S., Nicholson Trail, Olympic Discovery Trail and routes in Austria and Italy. One of his dreams was to visit the two towns his grandparents originated from, Tiriolo and Nicastro Italy. He made this happen in the summer of 2025.

Vince was a well-rounded individual. In addition to playing outdoors or in the gym, he was a voracious reader. Whether it be the news, mysteries, history, or the classics, reading was an important pastime! He also gave back to his community in many ways by volunteering at All Roads (Boulder’s shelter for the unhoused) as well as TipiRaisers.

One of Vince’s gifts was his ability to connect with people and nurture and cultivate friendships. He was an affable, unpretentious social butterfly. He could have intellectual conversations about politics and history, talk about sports (another passion!), or connect with people about everyday life. Nurturing relationships with friends and family was his forte. He was a loyal, committed friend who truly went out of his way for the people he cared about.

Vince will always be remembered lovingly by his wife, Viola Catherine Raveczky, their son Charles Bela Raveczky Orlando; his brother and sister-in-law Charles and Joan Orlando; his niece Jennifer (Dan) Basalyga; his nephew Mark (Stephanie) Orlando, his grandnephews Kevin and Adam Orlando; his two step-daughters Denise (Roland) Acheampong and Dawn (Mike) Pforr; his 3 step-grandchildren Tema and Tio Acheampong and Georgia Pforr; and his god-daughter Lisa (Rob) Gatchell.

Celebrations of life will take place this summer in Colorado and Pennsylvania. Long ago, Vince decided he wanted his ashes to be scattered at a place he called “Orlando Rock,” a beautiful spot near a high alpine lake surrounded by wildflowers.

In lieu of flowers or planting trees, please make a donation to the organizations Vince supported: The Tipi Raisers (an organization working to alleviate poverty in Native communities and empowering youth) https://www.thetipiraisers.org/tipi-raisers-team.html or Sage Studio (a studio and gallery for artists with disabilities in Austin, TX). https://www.sagestudioatx.com/