Leonardo Colello

Retired United States Air Force Veteran • Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather

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With hearts full of love and gratitude, our family announces the passing of Leonardo Colello, who left us on September 16, 2026, at the age of 75. He was surrounded by his family at his home. A wish that he successfully fought to manifest, with every ounce of strength that he could muster. To the world, he was a retired United States Air Force veteran. To us, he was the steady center of our family: a devoted husband, a loving father, a proud grandfather and great-grandfather, and a man whose presence made home feel safe.

He shared 56 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Patricia Colello. Their life together was built through ordinary days and extraordinary seasons, through laughter, hard work, faith, patience, and a love that endured. He showed us that devotion is not only spoken. It is lived, one promise, one sacrifice, and one caring act at a time.

As a father, he gave us guidance, strength, humor, and lifelong memories to pass along to our families. As a grandfather and great-grandfather, he found joy in listening to accomplishments, dinners, holidays, phone calls, and passing along his experiences. He had a special way of making each generation feel connected to the one before it. The lessons he passed down, the stories he told, and the love he gave will continue to shape our family for years to come.

He served our country with honor in the United States Air Force, enlisting during the Vietnam War Era, and retiring as Senior Master Sergeant after 20 years of service, at his final duty station of Pease AFB in New Hampshire. His assignments included locations in the United Kingdom, Turkey and the

United States. He received recognition, numerous times, to include; “Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter” and especially “SAC Fuels Superintendent of the Quarter”, for his outstanding performance and leadership. He carried the values of service, discipline, loyalty, and integrity throughout his life. Yet he never allowed his accomplishments to speak louder than his care for others. His proudest legacy was not only the uniform he wore, but the family he loved and the life he built with us.

Beyond his military service, he was known for being a schoolteacher at Rochester Middle School, in New Hampshire, from which he retired a second time in 2010. Where his prior students know him well as “Mr. C”. He loved to take vacations to see the world, have dinner parties, play card games, read, play softball, was an avid golfer, taught himself to play the guitar, and even participated in theatrical plays. He always strived to be a man of the arts. We will remember the way he knitted his eyebrows, the sound of his laugh, and his sometimes “unique” way of recalling a story. These are the details that made him ours, and they are the memories we will hold closest.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia (Huff) Colello; his three children, Jennifer (Colello) Willcox (husband Henry), Jessica (Colello) Morrison (husband Mark), Leonardo Colello (wife Ryan); his six grandchildren, Jeremy Willcox, Jacob Willcox, Ryann Lee Morrison, Samuel Morrison, Olivia Colello and Leo Colello; his great-grandchildren, Henry Willcox and Stella Willcox; and siblings, James Colello, Matthew Colello and Peter Colello. He was preceded in death by; Matthew Colello and Doris (Gemmell) Colello, his parents, and Angelina (Colello) Libby, his beloved sister.

A funeral will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 10am, in St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, located at 7081 SE Highway 42 in Summerfield, FL 34491. Military honors and burial will be held at, Boscawen New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, located 110 Daniel Webster Hwy, Boscawen, NH 03303, to be scheduled. In lieu of donations or flowers we kindly ask that you pay it forward by doing a nice gesture for someone like taking them to lunch, giving them a ride, or visiting someone lonely or ill.

We will miss him more than words can express, but we will carry him with us in every story shared, every family gathering, and every act of love passed from one generation to the next. His life was a gift. His service was an honor. His love is our inheritance, and his memory will remain forever in the heart of our family.

“Forever loved. Forever honored. Forever part of us.”