John Frank Colacchio

John, originally from Bayshore, New York, passed away on July 4, 2023. Born on November 10, 1924, John was a first generation American who lived a rich life full of purpose and adventure. In his later years, John had been defined by his military service during WWII which, at the age of 18, found him in the throes of two major battles in the European.

He is survived by his daughter, Barbara, and her husband, Larry Ludemann as well as his brother, Bob Colacchio, his nephews Stephen Ridulfo, John Ridulfo and their families. John is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 29 years, Laura Colacchio, who passed in 2009.

John worked for the Long Island Railroad, Jamaica, Queens, NY as a carpenter starting in 1943. His Long Island Railroad employment was interrupted when he was drafted into the US Army and served in two major battles at Omaha Beach, Normandy June 6, 1944; and the Battle of Ardennes (The Bulge) December 1944. Honorably discharged, he resumed his position on the Long Island Railroad. While working full time, he served as a volunteer fireman at the Copiague Fire Department, New York. John retired from the Long Island Railroad in 1975 and 15 years later, he returned to the workforce as a part-time school bus driver on Long Island from 1989 to 2004.

John was very outgoing, had a positive outlook and enjoyed having family and friends around him. He enjoyed meeting new people and attending local community events. John’s hobbies over the years included building grandfather clocks with his friend and co-worker, Bill Steuber, playing golf and cooking. He was known for his Zucchini Pie and homemade soups which he continued preparing up through his 90’s.

When his wife, Laura, passed in 2009 John moved to Celebration, Florida to be close to his daughter and son-in-law. In a short period of time, he joined the Celebration, FL Retirees and Veterans Clubs. It was a seminal time because the Veterans Club enabled him to talk about his war experiences for the first time. He became fast friends with two fellow WWII Veterans and shared similar experiences together. He participated in holiday town parades with the Veterans Club, participated in a Veterans Honor Flight trip to Washington DC, 2013. The following year, he flew to Paris, France in for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. Organizations too numerous to mention interviewed John chronicling his WWII experiences and recollections including a representative from the National World War II Museum, New Orleans, LA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s honor to the www.garysinisefoundation.org or www.tunneltotowers.org – both organizations honor veterans and/or first responders for their sacrifices.