Joseph Colella
05/10/1930 - 04/17/2025
Joseph Colella May 10,1930 - April 17, 2025 Joseph Colella, 94, passed away at home on April 17, 2025, with his twin daughters, son, and future daughter-in-law by his side. He was born and raised in New York City. In 1951, he left home to proudly serve in the Air Force during the Korean War. After leaving the Air Force in 1953, he received his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at CCNY on the GI Bill. He worked for Western Electric /AT&T, earning his master’s degree from Lehigh University in 1968, and worked in various locations in NY and NJ until his retirement in 1987.
He and his former wife Gail, raised their family in Flemington, NJ, where he was an avid tennis player and was on the Raritan Township Planning Board and became chairman. In 1988, he moved to Sarasota, FL.
Once in Sarasota, he used his contractor’s license and built his own home at The Preserve at Misty Creek, where he lived until 2004. He was a member of the Yacht Club, the Jazz Club, the Ringling Museum, and the Manatee Gun and Archery Club. He was also a proud member of VFW Post 12055 in Bradenton, wearing their hat everywhere he went. He spent the last 8 years at his home in Lakewood Ranch.
He is survived by his three children: Jane Marmo, Cathryn (Joseph) Foster, and Joseph (Sheila) Colella; six grandchildren, Christopher Marmo, Samara Paige, Evan Foster, Sarah (Tom) Mangano, Jordan, and Jessica Colella, his sister, Lena Anderson, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his longtime companion, Pierrette Zajkowski, his brothers John and Philip Cipriano, three sisters, Caroline Ditroia, Mary Cangialosi, and Eleanor Verno.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday May 13 at 1:00PM at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Rd 72, Sarasota FL.
He and his former wife Gail, raised their family in Flemington, NJ, where he was an avid tennis player and was on the Raritan Township Planning Board and became chairman. In 1988, he moved to Sarasota, FL.
Once in Sarasota, he used his contractor’s license and built his own home at The Preserve at Misty Creek, where he lived until 2004. He was a member of the Yacht Club, the Jazz Club, the Ringling Museum, and the Manatee Gun and Archery Club. He was also a proud member of VFW Post 12055 in Bradenton, wearing their hat everywhere he went. He spent the last 8 years at his home in Lakewood Ranch.
He is survived by his three children: Jane Marmo, Cathryn (Joseph) Foster, and Joseph (Sheila) Colella; six grandchildren, Christopher Marmo, Samara Paige, Evan Foster, Sarah (Tom) Mangano, Jordan, and Jessica Colella, his sister, Lena Anderson, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his longtime companion, Pierrette Zajkowski, his brothers John and Philip Cipriano, three sisters, Caroline Ditroia, Mary Cangialosi, and Eleanor Verno.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday May 13 at 1:00PM at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Rd 72, Sarasota FL.