Pete Komlen

Peter and Elizabeth Komlen. Pete passed away on December 22, 2021 at age 76. Beloved

husband of Rosemarie Komlen for 51 wonderful years. Loving father of Kristen (Steven) Pricco

and Kelly (Seth) Amadei. Cherished Papa of McKenzie Pricco and Lydia Amadei. Dear brother of

Roger (Jo-Ann) Komlen. Pete is also survived by cousins Warren Hruska, David Szego, Mike

Nunez, Patti Taylor and Laura Dixon. Nieces and nephews, beloved granddogs, Rocco and

Charlie, extended family, countless friends, and former colleagues.

He is preceded in death by parents Elizabeth (Betty) and Peter, parents-in-law Lydia and John

Gallucci, sister-in-law Corinne Minni, cousins Lorraine Mallory and Joanne Props, and dog-son Spencer Komlen.

Pete loved being a teacher and football and hockey coach in the Livonia Public School District

for 39 years. He started his teaching career at Webster and Randolph Elementary Schools

teaching sixth grade. In his mid teaching career, he taught social studies at Holmes Middle

School and Visual Art and Physical Education at Bentley High School. (If you met Pete later in his

life, you may have had no idea what an incredibly gifted visual artist he was.)

He spent the last 20 years of his teaching career with many beloved colleagues at Emerson

Middle School, teaching Physical Education. Among the many happy times he had, and

memories made during his time at Emerson, he always loved and looked forward to taking the

Emerson students to Mackinac Island every spring, and sitting on the porch of the Island House

Hotel every morning, drinking his coffee.

Rosie, Kristen, Kelly , Steve, Seth, McKenzie and Lydia are so grateful to have spent time all

together on Mackinac Island this past summer, celebrating Pete and Rosie’s 50th Wedding

anniversary at the Island House Hotel.

Coach K, as he was affectionately known by, touched the lives of so many of his students and

the athletes he coached, as well as the colleagues he taught with over the years. He was loved

for his humor and good nature, his well timed quotes from his favorite movie characters, his

own Coach K-isms, his tough love teaching style (heavy on the love), his knack for pranks and

the endearing way he gave a nickname to just about everyone he met.

Sports were always a big part of Pete’s life. He started playing hockey at a young age with the

Fighting Wings, followed by other locally sponsored Dearborn Hockey teams. It was through

these teams that Pete formed some lifelong friendships. He continued playing hockey in high

school, as well as football for Fordson High School in Dearborn. Upon graduating from Fordson

in 1963, Pete attended Central Michigan University where he continued playing football and

graduated with a degree in education.

He married fellow Fordson High School alum Rosemarie Gallucci in 1970.

They had two daughters, Kristen in 1971, and Kelly in 1976. Pete was a devoted, supportive

father and husband. Driving his daughters’ to figure skating practice at 6:00AM, supplying his

phenomenal artistic talents for numerous school projects and, perhaps most famously, being

the announcer of the Livonia Parks and Recreation Figure Skating Shows.

Since hockey was always a major part of his life, he always rooted for his beloved Detroit Red

Wings, and never missed a game. Pete loved music, especially Motown and the Beatles. He is

responsible for both of his daughters’ being avid music lovers! He had a lifelong fascination with

Space and Space Travel. He also had a great passion for all things Star Wars, especially Darth

Vader and Yoda. Over the years, he became an avid collector of Star Wars merchandise. The

pride of his Christmas tree was the interactive Star Wars ornaments gifted to him by his

daughter every year.

His family was everything to him, as he was to them. He was the best “ Papa" in the whole

world to McKenzie and Lydia. Pete will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Daddy, until we are able to see each other again, and hug tight, Godspeed, and MAY THE FORCE

BE WITH YOU.

Visitation, Tuesday December 28, 2021 from 4-8pm with a 7pm Rosary at Harry J Will Funeral Home in Livonia. Funeral mass, Wednesday December 29, 2021 at 10:30am (in state 10am) at St. Colette Catholic

Church in Livonia. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Livonia Public School

Foundation in Pete's memory. You can donate at www.lpsfoundation.org