Cono Pitinga

Cono Pitinga passed away in his home on August 7th. He was a kind man known for his generous spirit. He lacked any pretense or need to judge. He touched young and old with his open and unassuming way of moving through the world. He saw only good in others and was rewarded with a richly-layered and connected life. He will be remembered fondly and loved profoundly – and everything in between by anyone that ever knew him.

Cono Pitinga was born in Colorado Springs on March 15, 1924. His parents Francesca Parasiliti and Peter Pitinga were Italian immigrants. Always the student, he charmed the teacher of the one-room school house at the end of his street into letting him enroll at the age of four so he could spend two years in kindergarten and master the English language. He graduated from Colorado Springs High School (currently Palmer) in June, 1942, and joined the Navy. He served as a gyro-compass technician on a sub-tender, the U.S.S. Sperry, in the Pacific Theater during World War II. On Feb. 14, 1953, he married Patricia Halloran of Springfield, Ohio. He was looking for a beautiful, smart, steadfast woman and he found one in her. They had five children over the next seven years and fatherhood and his father’s poor health redirected Cono’s ambitions to the family shoe repair business, the College Shoe Shop, which he expanded to a successful retail store. He owned and operated that store for over 35 years. Working side by side, he taught a number of young employees, including his daughters, the importance of a job well done, the value of a dollar, and the power of the phrase. “Yes, I can do that.”

Cono had a huge number of interests. Witnessing and sharing in his child-like wonder when he encountered something novel, extraordinary, or genius was a privilege. He was passionate about learning, about knowing, about growing. He was a problem solver and tackled every challenge with a flexible and agile mind. His curiosity was legendary.

Cono was an artist. He brought his creative energy to every task, great or small. He loved to work with his hands and they were rarely idle. He painted many beautiful nature-inspired landscapes. As a life-long resident of Colorado Springs, he loved its beauty, its mountains, its history. He walked and hiked in Cheyenne Cañon and the Garden of Gods for many years. He painted in them for even longer. He belonged to a Plein Air group and had a studio at Cottonwood. He studied with Herman Raymond and took classes from various instructors at Bemis Art School. Among other places, his work was exhibited at the grand reopening of the Cheyenne Mountain Cub.

Cono often told Patti that he couldn’t believe how wonderfully his life had turned out. He was truly devoted to her and she to him for the 63 years they were married. He loved his five children with an intensity that encouraged us to dream big and a tenderness that provided a safety net in less steady times.

We try to live in the world as testimony and tribute to the life he led. We will miss him always and love him beyond that.

Cono is survived by his wife, Patti and their 5 children, Maureen Pitinga (Mark Wilson), David Pitinga, Ann Pitinga (Geoff Wilson), Casey Pitinga, and Rachel Anderson (Mark) and nine beloved grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Frances Weege and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Rose Kroen and Marguerite Pitinga.

There will be a funeral service for Cono on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 10:00. It will be held at St. Paul’s Church.