Tribute & Message From The Family
Loving husband, doting father, beloved son and brother, dear friend, successful businessman, proud Marine.
John Anthony Colucci packed a lot into his 62 years. Born in Queens, New York, the second of Patricia and Anthony Colucci's six children, "my John" was (in the humble but unanimous opinion of his siblings Mike, Mary Beth, Jean, Nancy and Tom) Patsy's favorite. Upon graduating high school, he joined the Marines and ushered in a lifetime of selfless service to country, family, friends, clients and the many strangers to whose defense John came.
From 1976 to 1980, he served his country with distinction and honor as an active duty Marine. He remained in the Corps as a Reserve for an additional 18 years, attaining the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. In 1990, he again answered the call and returned to active duty during the Gulf War. In 1997, in recognition of his heroism in single-handedly foiling an armed robbery attempt in New York City, the Marine Corps awarded John its highest civilian award.
In 1993, John married the enduring love of his life, Sallie. Together, they built a life devoted to their children Jake, Annie and Grace, shared with close family and friends, and brimming with laughter, movies, travel, golf, and more golf.
John's singular devotion to family and friends made his professional accomplishments all the more remarkable. After graduating Queens College and a brief stint at IBM, he entered the world of private aviation and climbed the proverbial corporate ladder from the bottom. Over the course of a career spanning thirty years, he served in Executive Vice President positions at two of the most prestigious private aviation companies, NetJets and Wheels Up. Much to Sallie and Grace's delight, his career culminated in a two year assignment in London as Founding Partner & President Wheels Up Europe.
Principled, quick-witted, and armed with a command of arcane facts a Jeopardy champion could admire, John leapt to a good debate. He reveled in simple joys – a round of golf with good friends and a stogie, a movie and popcorn with Jake, Annie or Grace, holidays with an extended family that admired and adored him. He cared about people, especially the downtrodden, loved those closest to him deeply, delighted in his kids and adored his Sallie.
John is survived by his wife Sallie, his children Jake, Annie and Grace, his siblings Mike (Mary Anne) Colucci, Mary Beth Colucci, Jean (Jack) Kiley, Tom (Maura) Colucci and Nancy Bsales, numerous nephews and nieces, and a bevy of friends, golf buddies, and fellow Marines who will miss him deeply. He is predeceased by his parents Anthony and Patricia Sherlock Colucci.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church located at 575 Fowler Avenue in Pelham Manor New York on Monday March 29th at 11:00am. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's memory to https://hourchildren.kindful.com For more information or to leave a condolence please visit www.pelhamfuneral.com
Semper Fi.
For those wishing to view John's funeral celebration online please log onto https://my.gather.app/remember/john-colucci
Condolence & Memory Journal
So sad to hear about this and our thoughts are with you. Always loved seeing John - especially when he was in the UK. He was an amazing person.
Posted by
Alasdair Whyte - London, AL - Friend June 11, 2021
Dearest Colucci family,
I was so saddened to hear of Johns passing, and as I'm sure you all are, taken off guard. I've been mulling over for some time what if anything, is helpful or appropriate to say and I'm still in square one. So here's my best: No energy is ever created or destroyed, so in a sense, regardless of any spiritual belief, the scientific opinion is that some part of John will always exist. I do not presume that this offers you any solace, but I do think it's worth sharing. Also worth sharing is the fact that I have to this day clear, vivid, wonderful memories of him; mine is one of many lives he enriched, and that's something that goes on forever as well. So while I did not get to know him nearly as well as I would've liked, I know first hand that he was an incredibly hard-working, generous, brilliant, loving, jovial, and generally awesome patriarch and human being. I'd also like to thank and remind you that that generosity did not begin or end with John. Your family showed me patronage that extended to students who have instruments or the inspiration to take lessons because of you all, Jake, and John. Thank you.
I cannot imagine how you must be feeling. They say time heals all wounds but I can't imagine that this will stop stinging anytime soon. So please, know that I am here for you in whatever capacity is comfortable whenever you would like. Know that the gravity of this loss is not lost on me, or anyone who even grazed John.
All the love and warmth of my heart,
Jamie Serow
Posted by
Jamie Serow - Los Angeles, CA - Teacher April 26, 2021
Sallie...I was so saddened to hear of John's death! Such a shock for you and your family!
Posted by
Ginger Treganowan - New Rochelle, NY - Friend April 13, 2021
Sallie, I am so sorry for your loss- my prayers are with you all!
Posted by
Julie Maloney - Pelham, NY - Friend April 13, 2021
Sallie, Jake, Annie, Gracie and the Colucci clan , we were shocked, devastated and so very sad to hear of John's death. It does not seem possible we will never see him again, laugh with him, talk politics and listen to the tales.
I first met John on my very first trip to NY as a naive 19 year old arriving from England for a summer waitressing job . My first impressions was A mischievous (and maybe a bit wild back in the day?!) sense of fun, a love of meeting and chatting with new people, a story teller par excellence and a kind and generous soul. In over 40 years the essence of John never changed, and how lucky we were to have John, Sallie and Gracie in London with us for a couple of years so recently....Everyone John met took him to their hearts and his English friends will not forget him.
One recent story I remember was Johns tale of sitting next to the Donald at a dinner one night and being pressed by the Donald to agree that Melania was the best looking woman in the world. Quick as a flash John begged to differ - to the Donald's evident displeasure! The best looking woman in the world, says John, is my own wife Sallie.
We are so sad we ourselves could not be with you to mourn John;s passing and share memories with you, but so glad that at least one Parker could be there . We hope the day we can be together again will come soon. Meantime you are all in our hearts.
Shelagh, Phil,Sam and Lulu Parker
London
Posted by
Shelagh Parker - London - Family March 30, 2021
Dear Sallie, Jake, Annie and Grace: John was a great father, husband and an extraordinary person. He inspired everyone he encountered! His kindness and brilliance will be greatly missed!
Posted by
Tim & Kathy McKeon - Friend March 29, 2021
Dear Sallie,Jake, Annie and Grace: John was a great father, husband and an extraordinary person. He inspired everyone he encountered! His kindness and brilliance will be greatly missed!
Posted by
Tim & Kathy McKeon - Friend March 29, 2021
John was a great father, husband and an extraordinary person. He inspired everyone he encountered! His kindness and brilliance will be greatly missed!
Posted by
Tim & Kathy McKeon - Friend March 29, 2021
Dear Sallie, Jake, Annie & Grace,
I very much enjoyed knowing John all these years. His sense of humor and light outlook of the world was always refreshing on the days he came into the office. He always spoke of his family with great pride and joy. I will miss his goofiness and his positive outlook on life. May God give you the strength to find your own path in light of your loss.
Laura, Minnie and Lucky
Posted by
Laura Heisler - New Rochelle, NY - Friend March 29, 2021
Remembering John's selfless, joyful, wise, generous, and kind soul. He is an inspiration to us all and will have a forever impact on the lives he touched. A life well-lived and shared with others. Wishing your family comfort and peace in the happy memories you have with John.
Posted by
Gretchen Muller - Brooklyn, NY - Coworker March 29, 2021
Dear Sallie,
There are no words to express my sorrow for you and your family on the loss of John. He was such a great man and I'm so grateful to have known him. Please know that you are all in our prayers. We are sending love, strength and hugs to you all.
Love, Nancy W. Kiley (Jim is there in person today)
Posted by
Nancy Kiley - Manhasset, NY - Friend March 29, 2021
John was such a great guy. There was always a smile on his face, and a joke on his lips. He was universally revered by the Marines with whom he served, and I was among them. John served as one of my first mentors in the Marine Corps, and his leadership, advice, and love of his fellow Marines did much to inspire me to make the Marine Corps a career for 34 years. I like to think that the manner in which I led and trained my Marines was a reflection of the leadership John showed to me all those years ago.
Joan and I send our prayers and condolences to Sally, Jake, Annie, and Grace. May our Lord comfort you and all your loved ones and may John's soul rest Christ's peace.
Posted by
Timothy Parker - Fredericksburg, VA - Friend March 29, 2021
Semper Fi Gunney.
Posted by
Ssgt Nick Perrorazio USMC - Hampstead, NC - Acquaintance March 29, 2021
Sallie -
I am terribly sorry for you loss. John was a great friend and I will think of him every time I head to the first tee at PCC. John was always so much fun to play with and his never ending stories made spending time together the best. I was lucky to have had the pleasure of spending an evening or two with him in London while we were both away from home. The last time John and I were together it was only for a few moments. We were both waiting on line together at a month ago at Artistic Manner picking up Valentine's Day flowers for our wives! It was good to see him on a dreary Winter's Day, to share a laugh and to talk about how much each of us loved the annual ritual of bringing our sweet hearts a bouquet.
May he Rest In Peace and his memory serve as continuing inspiration to us all.
Posted by
Bob Eicher - Pelham Manor, NY - Friend March 29, 2021
Sallie and family
John was such a wonderful guy and I always enjoyed his friendship during my time at NetJets. He was dependable, smart, and had such a great sense of humor. He will be missed and we all send our deepest condolences. Thinking of you all with love.
Posted by
Bernie and Heather Taupin - Santa Ynez, CA - Friend March 29, 2021
Dear Sallie, Gracie & family, we are deeply saddened by the news of your loss. We would like to offer you and your family our deepest and most sincere condolences. May God grant all of you the strength to bear this great loss.
May his soul rest in peace!
Posted by
Della, Fariba and David Waldrop - Potomac, MD - Acquaintance March 28, 2021
I am so grateful that I had the privilege of meeting and working alongside John these last 7 years. I love everything about him and what he stood for. He was a very kind and humble man. I send my deepest condolences to the Colucci family. RIP John, we will all miss you dearly.
Posted by
Lawrence Tynes - Overland Park, KS - Coworker March 28, 2021
Our deepest condolences to the Colucci family from all of us at Leading Edge Aviation Solutions. I was proud to have worked with with John and to have known him for over 25 years. He commanded respect from those around him because he simply led his life by example. The world has lost a very good man.
Posted by
Joe Carfagna, Jr. - Mendham, NJ - Friend March 28, 2021
Sally, I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear of John's passing. I am away for the month and unable to be there for the Mass. you all will be in my prayers this Holy Week. Bruno and I send our deepest condolences.
Posted by
Kathie OCallaghan - Pelham, NY - Friend March 28, 2021
We are so grateful to have met John during our days at Ursuline, his uplifting and generous way made everyone around him feel at ease and comfortable. He was so kind and engaging. We are so very sorry for this heartache and grief. May God's abundant love surround you and hold you up to give you strength as you all move this difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers. God bless John and all of you with Love from, The Pawlowicz Family (Ann Marie, Veets, Kalina and Julia)
Posted by
Ann Marie Pawlowicz - Hawthorne, NY - Friend March 28, 2021
Very sorry to read this. John and I spent some time together at IBM before he moved on to pursue bigger challenges. Always a great guy and I had tremendous respect for him as a person and a marine. Good bless him and his family.
Posted by
Gary Arnold - Bay Shore, NY - Friend March 28, 2021
Dear Sallie and all of the family members and friends who loved John, I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved husband, father and friend. I hope his wonderful stories and memories live on in your hearts. My heart is heavy. ❤
Posted by
Cindy Lustrin - Rye, NY - Friend March 28, 2021
Though I didn't Know you, You are my Veteran Brother Thank you for serving our great nation Fair Winds and Following Sea. RIP Marine Semper Fi. God Bless you and your family that is here on earth may you watch over and guide them and answer them in a way only they will know. Slow salute.
Posted by
Paul Bonfiglio - Poughkeepsie, NY - Served in the Military together March 27, 2021
We feel fortunate that we were able to get to know John better during a few lazy summer days in Menorca. He was a true gentleman. We will always have such a lovely memory of him. Thinking of you all and holding you tight in prayer.
Posted by
Gaia Striano - Madrid - Friend March 27, 2021
I am so sorry for the loss suffered by Sallie and the Colucci family. I always left an encounter with John smarter, securer and smiling. He was the ultimate man's man for his generation. He will surely be missed.
Posted by
Rick Reichenbach - Naples, FL - Friend March 27, 2021
So saddened to hear of John's passing. I had the pleasure of working with John @Netjets and always found him to be one of the most honest, knowledgeable, hardworking and kind individuals I encountered in my career. He will be missed.
Posted by
Alan & Molly Peters - Blacklick, OH - Coworker March 27, 2021
Dear Sallie, Jake, Annie, and Grace;
What a life John had. Extraordinary and rich by any measure, but particularly in terms of life experience. Not many people can come close to having experienced or accomplished what John did in his 62 years.
Of all his accomplishments, however, none stand out more than the fact that John NEVER forgot who he was, where he came from, and the importance of his family and his friends. Of those, none was more important to John than his family. This is who John was. A good man, a good friend, and someone you always welcomed to your dinner table for his charm, wit and of course the countless funny stories only a man of his vast experience and humor can share. John was one of those rare people who enriched the lives of those around him, just by being there. His passing is a loss for all of us, who have benefitted from having him in our circle.
We will keep you in our prayers, and look forward to the day when the shock and sadness begins to subside, and we can start to fill the void with happier memories of John being John, putting a smile on our faces with a quick joke or a funny story.
With all our love,
The Striano family
Posted by
Patricia Striano - Frankfurt, Germany - Family Friend March 27, 2021
Sallie we were so heartbroken to hear of John's passing. We feel so fortunate that we had the opportunity not to long ago to see you both. Paul so enjoyed his life stories that night. We are thinking of you and praying for strength and healing for you , Jake, Annie, and Grace.
Our deepest condolences.
Paul and Molly
Posted by
Molly Sutorius - Wilton Manors, FL - Friend March 27, 2021
John will be missed by many a truly unique person i am proud to call him my friend joe kay carfagna
Posted by
Joseph Carfagna - Singer island, FL - Friend March 26, 2021
Whenever I saw John there was a twinkle in his eye, a smile on his face and a funny story to share. A truly caring and genuine spirit. My deepest, heartfelt condolences to his beautiful bride and amazing children. He touched so many with his authentic personality and I feel so fortunate to have known him and spent time on the golf course with him. He is already deeply missed. God now has the best co-pilot ever.
Posted by
John Gilbert - Jupiter, FL - friend March 26, 2021