Frank Colangelo

Frank Colangelo, 82, died Saturday, May 4, 2018.

He was born May 16, 1935, in Buffalo, New York, to Rachel (Lucchino) and James Colangelo. He married Jo-Ann Nigro on Jan. 15. 1966.

Shortly after high school, Frank joined the Navy. He was stationed in San Diego and traveled throughout the Pacific on submarines, working with sonar. He met his lifelong friends Howard Hildebrand and Rodney Montoya while stationed in Guam, where he spent his free time scuba diving and exploring the island.

After his four-year enlistment, he worked for RCA and worked in Greenland operating computers. He came back to Buffalo when his father was ill to help run the family’s tavern, but he preferred the technology field and took a job with IBM in Kingston, New York.

Frank and Jo-Ann married in 1966 and, while working for Infor-x, were moved to Boston and then Fountain Valley, California. In 1980, he went to work for Paradyne and was transferred to the Chicago area, where he bought a farm in Woodstock.

On the farm, he and Jo-Ann raised their boys, spending time at their property and watching sporting events. Frank loved to cook and passed his love of food on to his boys, making homemade pasta, sauce, and even ricotta cheese. Frank had a great sense of humor and a quick wit.

He is survived by his wife, Jo-Ann; three sons, Jason (Tracy), Matthew (Laura) and Paul; and six grandchildren, Jacob, Kelsey, Daniel, Zachary, Joseph, and Zoie. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Rachel Colangelo, and a sister, Elaine.

Memorial donations may be made to Journeycare Hospice.

A celebration of life will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the home of Matthew and Laura Colangelo.