Federico A Colombo

Federico "Fred" A. Colombo, 84, of Worcester, passed away on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at home, with his loving family by his side. Federico is survived by his loving wife, best friend and partner of sixty-three years, Laura A. (Lopriore) Colombo, two devoted children, a son, Stephen A. Colombo and his wife Debra of Bristol, Virginia; a daughter, Joanne M. Colombo of Londonderry, NH; a grandson, Anthony Colombo of North Carolina. He also leaves a sister, Rose Porcaro and a special sister in law, Rita Yockel both of Worcester; many nieces, nephews. He was born in East Boston on February 11, 1927, the son of Italian immigrants, Ignazio and Josephine (Messinese) Colombo. He attended Worcester schools and graduated from Millbury High School, class of 1947. He attended Becker Junior College, Quinsigamond College and Holy Cross College. He served his nation proudly as a fireman in the engineering division of the United States Navy, during World War II. He served aboard the USS John Q. Roberts, APD94. He was plant manager at the former New England Grocer Supply and had worked at Data General in Southborough as Facilities Manager. He retired from Servpro where he had been working as a consultant. Before his retirement, he and his wife co-owned Joe's Market in West Brookfield. Fred was the former director of Murray Broder Entertainment Group, for twenty years. On a weekly basis the group put on shows at local hospitals and senior retirement homes. He was also former President of the Boston Plant Engineers Club and former President of the American Institute of Plant Engineers, and President of the Mainland Civic Association of Tamarac, Florida. He was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Saint Ann Church, Pope John 23rd Knights of Columbus and a 4th degree knight with the Bishop O'Reilly Assembly, which was conferred upon him at Exemplification held in Worcester on May 23, 1965. He kept up camaraderie with fellow veterans as a member of a VFW post in Derry, New Hampshire and The American Legion in West Brookfield. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, July 5, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. in MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester; the Knights of Columbus will gather at 7 p.m. to perform their funeral ritual. His funeral will be held on Wednesday, July 6, from the funeral home with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Saint Ann Church, 24 Mulberry Street, Worcester, MA. Interment will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to the M.S. Society, National MS Society, PO Box 4527, New York, NY 10163.