Carl John Colangelo

Carl John Colangelo, 65, died suddenly on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. His life was cut short in a tragic motor vehicle crash. He was the beloved husband of Carolyn (Howcroft) Colangelo and a proud, loving father to their daughters, Isabella and Mia.

Born in Taunton, Massachusetts, Carl was the son of the late Camille and Gertrude (Terraboa) Colangelo.

A graduate of New Bedford High School, he earned his bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and biochemistry from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He started his career as a manufacturing engineer at Augat/Isotronics, where he made many lifelong friends. Carl went on to work in various scientific, engineering, and project management positions at Shipley, Rohm & Haas, Dow and Dupont Chemical, and most recently, Schmid Systems. He spent much of his career working on projects in Europe and the Far East, making friends and building relationships with clients and colleagues around the world.

Carl loved his community. He was a member of the Club Madeirense S.S. Sacramento, and served for almost 30 years on the Feast Committee. He was a proud festeiro and was honored to serve as president of the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament in 2025. His love and passion for the feast brought him many lifelong friends. Carl earned his fourth-degree black belt in jiu-jitsu, training under the late Paul Guilbeaut. Carl became dedicated to learning the martial art, even involving his daughters from a young age. Carl was also a member of the Police Chief’s Advisory Board for the City of New Bedford.

Carl had many hobbies. He was an avid gardener, craftsman, and winemaker. He spent many years playing instruments at DeRossi’s, especially enjoying the accordion. When not spending time with his family and many pets, he could be found helping out at the feast grounds or his in-laws’ farm, playing pool, or enjoying a good game of 45s. Carl was a world traveler, having visited many countries and shared his love for adventure with his family. He was consistently positive and greeted everyone with a smile.

Carl loved sharing his many passions with his family. He taught us his parents’ recipe for homemade raviolis, which we especially loved to make during the holidays. He was a devoted father to his daughters and taught them how to grow a beautiful garden, drive a tractor, and build a chicken coop. He took pride in sharing his life with others.

Carl lived his life in a perpetual quest to gain knowledge for both self-improvement and to make things better for his family, friends, and community. Most recently, he earned his contractor’s license and managed the construction of his family’s home. He was a multi-talented craftsman and aspiring plumber. He took great care of his parents, rescuing his mother from a house fire, and was a loving and dedicated husband, father, and friend. He was generous to a fault, kind and respectful to all, and looked for the good in everyone.

In addition to his wife and daughters, Carl is survived by his parents-in-law, John and Candy Howcroft, as well as his brother, Camille M. Colangelo.

Carl’s legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched, the love he gave so freely, and the lasting imprint he leaves on the lives of everyone fortunate enough to have known him.

Whether you called him Carl, Honey, Daddy, Son, or Carlucci, his greatest gift to us all was the love he shared. Just his contagious smile alone could bring joy to whoever he spoke to. He was the kind of guy who would give you his full attention, because he genuinely cared for everyone he knew.

We love him endlessly and will miss his kind, caring, and passionate energy every day.

Carl's funeral will be held Tuesday, October 20th at 10AM at Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish, 343 Tarkiln Hill Road, New Bedford. Visitation will be Monday, October 19th 4-8PM at Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Blvd, New Bedford. Family and friends are invited.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to his two daughters’ education fund. Carl cherished their education and worked his whole life to see them succeed. Here is the direct link: https://digital.fidelity.com/prgw/digital/familygifting/mlgLandingPage?uuid=270c4fd64b634a3db0ea3279faac0ed1

For family and friends who are unable to attend the Mass of Christian Burial, you may view it livestream by clicking this link: tinyurl.com/carlcolangelo