John Colao

John Colao

John Colao, age 92 of Erie, died Sunday, March 2, 2008 in Auburndale, Florida while vacationing for the winter.

He was born July 29, 1915 in Erie, son of the late Domenico and Mary Farbo Colao. He had worked at Bucyrus Erie for 35 years. He was the Westside Commissioner for Boys Baseball for 20 years and was an ASA Umpire for 20 years. He worked the polls on Election Day at Roosevelt School for years. He was an avid bowler for over 70 years, bowling three to four times a week in leagues until 2007. He and his brothers won the Erie County Brothers Bowling Tournament in 1990. He also hunted many years with his bother-in-laws.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, Antoinette Corsi Colao in 1971, a brother, Joseph Colao and a step-son, Richard Tarbell.

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Angeline Carlo Tarbell Colao; two daughters, Mary Jane Robie and her husband James of Owego, NY and Janet DiPaolo and her husband Dominick of Erie; one step-daughter in law, Margaret Tarbell of Auburndale, FL; five grandchildren, Kimberly Robie, Brian Robie and his wife, Penny, Jennifer Shoemacher and her husband Jamie all of Owego, NY, Patrick DiPaolo and his wife Beth and Dawn Romeo and her husband Michael of Erie; two step-grandchildren, Richard Tarbell and his wife Michelle of Erie and Lynda Carter of Coldbrook, NY; one sister, Frances Seifert and three brothers, Sam Colao, Phil Colao and his wife Rae and George Colao and his wife Tomasina all of Erie. He is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Saturday evening from 7 to 9 pm and Sunday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. and may attend a service there on Monday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at Saint Paul RC Church, 1617 Walnut Street, at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.