Victor J. "Vic" Colo

NEW SALEM - Victor “Vic” J. Colo, age 93, died on Tuesday morning, March 7 with his children Anne and Tom by his side; holding his hands.  Vic died as a result of injuries sustained from a fall at home on Saturday, March 4.    

 Vic was born November 11, 1929 in Brooklyn, NY to Vito B. and Annie M. (Maestri) Colo.  He grew up in Orange on “old East Main Street”, a neighborhood with many Italian families.   Vic attended Orange High School, class of 1947, where he excelled in baseball, basketball and football. After graduation, he continued his basketball and baseball careers at Tilton Academy, NH for one year.  He then attended Northeastern University, captaining the baseball team his junior year, until he was drafted into the Armed Services in 1951.  Vic served two years in the Army (1951-1953), where he was selected to be a member of the Army’s baseball team.  He traveled all over Europe playing baseball representing the Army, and a highlight for him was that his team made it to the World Series in 1952.  

In 1953, with encouragement from his friend John O’Lari, he took a shot at professional baseball.  Vic had a successful tryout and was signed to a contract by the Alexandria (Louisiana) Aces. The following two seasons he played in Amarillo, TX and Visalia, CA for a total of three years.  He returned home to Orange and finished his degree at Fitchburg State University and soon after started his 35-year career at Ralph C. Mahar Regional School.  

Vic began teaching and coaching at Ralph C. Mahar Regional School in 1968 until he retired 35 years later in 1993.   He taught history and coached football, baseball, and girls’ and boys’ basketball teams.  He loved his job working with wonderful colleagues, many of whom were his very best friends.   

Vic met Mary Anne Kenney in 1967 and they were married on July 27, 1968.  In Mary, he found his confidant, his biggest fan and supporter, his stabilizing force, his funniest and most joyful friend, and the love of his life.  In 1972 they built their home in New Salem where they lived their lives and raised their family. Vic and Mary together were genuinely the happiest, funniest, most joyful couple.  Mary was everything to Vic and he often said she was “the best thing in the world.”  Indeed, Mary has always thought the same of him.  

 Vic was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, friend and colleague.  He loved spending time with his children, Anne and Tom (Sonia) and grandchildren, Luciana and Dominic.  His greatest attribute was his love of life and people, which was reflected in absolutely everything he did.  Vic was grateful for his life and constantly recognized his good fortune. He would want all to know that he believed he had the most perfect life. Vic absolutely loved his colleagues, friends, students, and athletes and would want to convey the happiness and joy they brought to his life.    

 Vic’s summers were also filled with teaching and coaching kids at summer camp in Erving and driving buses.  Ultimately, he started his own camp, the Colo-Spadafora Baseball and Basketball Clinic, with his good friend Joe Spadafora. At the end of every summer the Colos would spend time together in Wells Beach and Pine Point, ME.  Vic and Mary and family and their friends the Paolettis, Woodcocks, Torstensens, Stones, Spadaforas, Joneses, Reindeaus and Meteviers and many others shared many happy memories and hilarious moments together on these vacations. Vic and Mary visited Daytona Beach Shores FL every January, and they had time to visit Italy, Arizona, and experienced many other amazing adventures. Vic often spoke of how fortunate he and Mary were to have had a healthy, full, long retirement; it was something they were both so grateful for.  

In retirement years he was fortunate to work as a color commentor for Orange’s local radio station, WJDF, covering the Mahar and Athol football teams.  This brought him much joy to work with a fabulous group of people, covering a sport he loved and watching young people engage in that sport. Vic was a proud member of the Orange American Legion Post 172.  He formed friendships and made many fond memories at the Legion where he also worked as a bartender.   

Vic was inducted into the Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996 and into the Mahar Regional School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.   

Vic had a deep faith in God, his church, and his country.  He was so grateful to be part of this beautiful community of Orange, Mahar Regional School, and St. Mary’s Church.  Both Vic and Mary were lifetime members and parishioners of St. Mary’s Church in Orange.    

 Over the past three and a half years Vic and Mary have had many kind, loving, and essential care givers who have made it possible for Vic to have a full, beautiful life for all of his 93 years.  To all the angels who have cared for Vic, we will never forget what you have done for our family.  To Debbie Ailinger we are eternally grateful for the love and kindness you gave to Victor.  

Vic was predeceased by his parents Vito and Annie, his sister, Virginia Porcari, and his brothers-in-law Mike Porcari and William Howell.  He will be forever missed by his wife MaryAnne, his children Anne and Tom, daughter-in-law Sonia Colo and grandchildren Luciana and Dominic, his sister, Nancy (Colo) Howell, and his nieces and nephews Diane Porcari, Mike (Nancy) Porcari, John (Marggi) Porcari and Carol Porcari. He leaves many beautiful, kind, supportive, funny, and loving friends who are too many to mention, but each one important and appreciated.   

Recently Vic wrote a note which sums up his life “I had the best parents, two great sisters, the perfect wife and kids, a job I loved, with friends that any guy would be lucky to have, a long, healthy retirement in a home I owned.  What more could I ever have asked for.”   It was a blessed life and in so many ways almost perfect, and yet, it still feels too short for us who loved him so much.  

Because of Vic’s lifelong love of students and his faith, memorial donations in Vic’s name may be made to:  The Orange Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 298, Orange, MA  01364 or St. Mary’s Church 19 Congress Street Orange, MA 01364.

There are no calling hours. 

A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be on March 18, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 19 Congress Street in Orange. Please go directly to the church. 

Burial will follow in South Cemetery, Orange. 

Friends and family are invited to gather immediately following the services at the American Legion, 40 Daniel Shays Highway, Orange for light refreshments.  

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.

Guest book and directions online at WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM  

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