Michael Caolo

CAOLO, MICHAEL, 84, Navy Veteran, WWII Honoree and family man Michael Caolo, a twenty year veteran of the United States Navy who served during World War II, died at 84 years old on Sunday morning July 11, 2004, at Florida Hospital Orlando surrounded by his family after a lengthy struggle with congestive heart failure. After suffering a heart attack on January 26, 2004, and a prolonged hospitalization, he completed rehabilitation and was able to return with his family to his long time home in Sanford. The "Chief", as he was known with affection, and his wife of 62 years, Jackie Caolo, enjoyed many visits with their three sons from Dallas, TX, Michael Jr., Jack and Mark, and with their two daughters, Bonnie Caolo Collins of Gulf Breeze, Florida and Susan Caolo Boot of Atlanta, GA. Against all odds, he was able to enjoy the last three months of his life at home with his family doing the things that brought him the most joy and satisfaction including making his renown Italian spaghetti sauce, faithfully listening to his favorite big band classics of the 40s, and grilling dinner in "The Chief's Gazebo" in his backyard. He and Jackie spent many late afternoons on the lakefront of Lake Monroe enjoying the spectacular Florida sunsets. He lived every day of his illness with fight, courage and extraordinary determination setting an example for all who knew him. Whether he was cruising the aisles of the grocery store, sharing war stories with fellow veterans at the Navy Fleet Reserve, or just sitting in the sunshine on his patio, he was committed to savoring the joys of life with the limited time he had remaining. According to his oldest son, Michael Jr., be suffered his third heart attack in five months last week and that was the one that ultimately proved fatal despite his indomitable spirit and love for his family. "Our father always placed his family first above all else and set an extraordinary example for his children, grandchildren and friends to follow. We will miss him terribly every day for the rest of our lives". He was born on May 9, 1920, in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, NY, to Italian parents. His father, Vincenzo, immigrated to America from Padula, Italy through Ellis Island. He grew up in the shadow of Ebbets Field, home of his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers, and attended Aviation High School in New York City and the Casey Jones School of Aviation in Newark, NJ. In January 1939 he joined the Navy at 18 years old to make a career of the Navy and served on the battleship USS West Virginia BB-48 immediately before the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. His next tour of duty serving at Naval Air Station Miami had him flying in the large PBY Catalina anti-submarine seaplanes along the Florida coast and in the Caribbean. He met his life long love, Jackie, on the beach in Hollywood, FL. After a brief courtship against the backdrop of Pearl Harbor, be proposed marriage by telephone from Navy Pensacola Flight School Class 12-B 1941, and married August 17, 1942. Later he saw duty at NAS Coco Solo Canal Zone in Panama. Together, he and his wife, Jackie, raised a family of three sons and two daughters, all distinguishing themselves academically and athletically at Seminole High School in Sanford. Giving his sons a choice of any college in the country "as long as it was Notre Dame", he saw all three graduate from Notre Dame and two continue on to graduate from law school. He saw his daughter Bonnie graduate from the University of Florida and his daughter Susan graduate from the University of Tennessee. He graduated from the Southern University College of Law in Memphis, TN in 1956 while he was still on active duty in the Navy. During his Navel career, Chief Petty Officer Michael Caolo was decorated with several awards, citations, and campaign ribbons including the Combat Air Crewman Badge, American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal with two stars. After serving his last tour of duty at NAS Kingsville, TX with the Navy CID, he retired from the Navy in 1958 to Sanford, FL, where be worked as Deputy Administrator for the Florida Milk Commission and later for the U.S. Department of Defense. Together with his wife, Jackie, he was involved with many volunteer projects through his children's schools as well as with the community of Sanford itself. Michael Caolo was preceded in death by his parents, Vincenzo and Louisa Caola, and his brother, Joseph Caolo, all of Brooklyn, NY. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jackie, his three sons, Michael Jr., Jack and Mark, and his two daughters, Bonnie and Susan, as well as his grandchildren, Caroline Caolo, Mark Collins, Dotte Collins, Michael Boot, Patrick Boot, Houston Davis and Joe Davis. He is also survived by his brother Vincent Caolo of South Haven, MI, his niece, Louise Caolo Beazer of Chicago, IL, and his sister, Irene Sisson, his nephews, Michael and Cecil, and his niece, Irene, all of South Haven, MI, as well as his cousin, Anthony Catalina of Brooklyn, NY. A Catholic Memorial Mass will be celebrated at the Navy Chapel at NAS Pensacola at 11:30AM on Friday, July 16, 2004. He will be interred at the National Cemetery at Fort Barrancas on the Naval Air Station at Pensacola with full U.S. Navy Honor Guard and twenty-one gun salute. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to contribute to the Michael & Jackie Caolo Scholarship Fund at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, 46556 or to the U. S. Naval Flight Museum at Pensacola.