Edward Colantti

Edward Colantti
Edward Colantti, 85, of Brunswick, Ga., died March 24, 2005, in Southeast Georgia Health System, Brunswick. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Marie (LeRoi) Colantti. Born January 18, 1920, in San Giorgio di Nogaro, Italy, he was the son of Timoleone and Virginia Del Bianco Colantti. The family moved to New York City in 1921. He graduated from Textile High School and received bachelors and masters degrees in business from New York University. He was a champion fencer in high school and with the N.Y.U. fencing team. He was later a fencing instructor and contributed to a book on the sport. He enlisted in the Army in 1939 and attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Knox, Ky., in 1943. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the 337th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, Mediterranean Theater, Northern Apennines, Po Valley, Italy, and was awarded the Bronze Star and Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster for meritorious service. He retired from the Army with the rank of Major after serving 30 years with the Army National Guard and Army Reserve. He was employed by A. Asche and Seagrams in New York City, and moved to Levittown in 1953, where he worked as a salesman for Kessler. Subsequently, he became a teacher in distributive education programs in Trenton and Camden, N.J. He taught business education courses at South River (N.J.) High School and retired as assistant principal. He moved south in 2002 to build his dream home in the pine woods of Georgia. He was a connoisseur of opera and classical music, and a voracious reader. His hobbies were woodworking, sculpture and golf. He was charming, witty and a true intellectual. He was a man whose personality filled the room. His family often described him as larger than life. Survivors: Children, Caryn C. Shoenthal of Northampton, Susan C. Layman of Brunswick, Stephen E. Colantti of Erie, Kathleen C. Viney of Johannesburg, South Africa, Christopher A. Colantti of St. Paul, Minn., Andrea C. Witt of Bethesda, Md; grandchildren, Tony, David and Cynthia Layman, Mark Wiragh, Michelle Lucas, Aaron, Phillip and Charlotte Colantti, Avery and Carter Witt; seven great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Services: graveside service, with full military honors, will be held later in Arlington (Va.) National Cemetery. Arrangements, Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home, Brunswick, Ga. Contributions: Army Emergency Relief, 200 Stovall St., Room 5N13, Alexandria, VA 22332-0600, American Diabetes Association or the N.Y.U. Alumni Fund.