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University of Delaware University of Nevada Reno

FUNERAL HOME

Mountain View Mortuary - Reno

425 Stoker Avenue

Reno, Nevada

Michael Colpo Obituary

Michael Vincent Colpo

Mike Colpo, 36, passed unexpectedly on December 7, 2011. Mike was born on February 1, 1975 in Wilmington, Delaware to John and Sheila Colpo. He graduated from the University of Delaware and then headed West to earn a Master's Degree in English Literature from the University of Nevada, Reno. Mike embraced mountain living immediately, and made Nevada his home.

Mike worked for Patagonia for 11 years. He was a beautiful writer and editor. Mike also taught for the National Outdoor Leadership School and treasured his time teaching others to appreciate the mountains he loved so passionately. He learned to cook on a camp stove in the wilderness and is known for, among so many other things, his amazing culinary talent.

Mike married Elizabeth Mosco on August 20, 2011. He was a more patient and loving husband than anyone could ask for. He is also survived by his parents, John and Sheila Colpo of Maryland; sisters MaryEllen Hearn (Bob) and Patricia Anderson (Dave) of Delaware; and brother John (Kara) of Delaware. He also leaves behind 10 nieces and nephews and countless other family and friends who love and miss him dearly.

Services will be held at Mountain View Mortuary at 425 Stoker Avenue, Reno, on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 2pm. Mike's kindness and love touched everyone he met. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Nevada Wilderness Project (www.wildnevada.org) or The Nevada Land Conservancy (www.nvlc.org).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Reno Gazette Journal and Lyon County News Leader on Dec. 11, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Colpo

Sponsored by John F.

20 Entries

James Keegan and Anne Colwell

Planted Trees

James Keegan and Anne Colwell

December 6, 2021

My wife Anne was Mike's professor when he was in the UD Parallel Program in Georgetown, Delaware, and we remained friends with him through and after that time. We lived in Newark, Delaware, during the time he and Nathan Tanner were roommates together on the UD Newark campus, and the two young men would come by occasionally for dinner and good talk and much laughter. We got snowed in one winter and he and Nathan drove the few miles to our house in Nathan's Jeep and we had hot chocolate and worked together on a jigsaw puzzle and made snow angels in the tiny backyard we had. It is still our fondest memory of our brief time in that little townhouse. Mike was a pure delight to spend time with--warm, funny, generous, and just plain lovable. All this week, we have been talking about and remembering him and how we loved his company and how much we wish we had stayed in touch when he went out west. He is still missed in our household and will be as long as we have one.

Stephen Perry

April 25, 2012

I only knew Mike for the extent of my 30 day NOLS trip in the Wind Rivers back in 2004. What an unbelievable guy! I was actually about to look him up today to send him a funny thought that reminded me of our time eight years ago. Now a 25 year old law student in NC, it is wild to think of all the awesome things he said and did on that trip that impacted my life.

I still remember 7 of us getting stuck in a snow storm with only one 2/3 man tent. As all the students (between 16-18 years of age) huddled together inside the tent trying to stay warm, Mike crammed himself under the rain fly and worked hard to boil water for hot drinks and then dinner. After serving us drinks and dinner he slept outside the tent in his sleeping bag so that we could all enjoy a crowed but warm tent. In all he did as a leader he was so positive, selfless and joyful.

I am sure that outside of his time as a NOLS instructor he was the same cheerful, smart, and genuine guy that I remember him as. I am so sorry to hear about his passing, but know for a fact that he impacted countless lives in the same way he impacted mine.

my thoughts and prayers are with his close friends and family.

Stephen Perry

December 16, 2011

Dear Liz,
We're so sorry to hear this terrible news. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Judi & Tom Lillis

John Friel

December 12, 2011

Mike, your love of Liz was unswerving and unquestionable. Your love of the mountains, of the outdoors, and of teaching others to share your passion was inspiring. Liz, I can only begin to imagine the pain of your loss of a love that had such a brief time to blossom. You are both in my thoughts and prayers, as are your families and friends.

stefan bergill

December 12, 2011

I first got to know Mike through work at Patagonia. Mike quickly became a favorite partner when it came to trying new ski runs or doing a moonlight ski run. Always smiling, always positive and always enjoying whatever conditions we encountered. Later Mike taught me to make croissants from scratch and was happy to spend evenings discussing where to get the best stinky cheese or Dogfish beer. The home that he and Liz shared was one full of warmth, cheer and friendliness.
We miss you already my friend.

Aunt Frances Gibison

December 12, 2011

I wish that I could be there for the services but you will be in my prayers forever. I looked at his lovely face when I got the obit from Mary Beth and I thought of all those great nieces and nephews that I never got to meet. I wish I had known him. I am so sorry for his wife, too. He will be missed by all of us and I wish I had known him a little better. Love you Sheila and John and the rest of the family.Sad things happen that we don't expect. Prayer and talking about him are the things that keep him in our life and memories.

Mary Ellen Gray

December 12, 2011

Elizabeth, my most sincere condolences on such a sudden and tragic loss. I hope that the love and support of your family and friends give you comfort in the difficult days ahead.

kim jardine reiley

December 12, 2011

Mike I will miss you everyday I come into work.
I will miss everything that we shared, and your commitment to being Kinder to all things.
And when I'm out in the Nevada Desert I'll think of your spirit and toast you!
Liz, I'm sending you love, hugs, kisses, and friendship always.
Kim Jardine Reiley

Vidya

December 12, 2011

I am so sorry to hear this...Peace be with you.

Karen Vadnais

December 12, 2011

Words cannot express the sorrow I feel at the news of Michael's passing. My deepest sympathies to Michael's wife and family. Peace be with you.

Sincerely,
Karen Hinds Vadnais

Steve and Marcia Litsinger

December 12, 2011

It's difficult to come to terms with our grief when someone so young, so kind and full of love is taken from us suddenly. Mike was a friend as well as an advocate to many people. His absence will be felt throughout our lives. We miss you dearly, Mike, and your beautiful bride of too short a time, Liz, will always have our love and support.

Susan McKeown

December 12, 2011

I am so sorry for your loss..

James Keegan

December 12, 2011

My wife, Anne Colwell, was Mike's first English professor at the University of Delaware and Mike came to be a good friend to us both and to our son, Thomas. Mike often joined us for meals at our home and he was the best of dinner companions: we remember him with great love as a funny, intelligent, warm, goofy, genuine, compassionate and handsome young man. With the way life goes, we had, we are sorry to say, fallen out of direct communication with Mike after his move at west to his new home, but we would hear reports occasionally and the all told us what we most wanted to hear--that he was, happy, thriving, living his life in a manner that pleased him and was meaningful for him. He was so full of life always, so generous of spirit, so gentle of disposition that we arrogantly presumed we would see him again, that our paths would surely cross again in this life. We are deeply grieved at the news of his early passing--it does not seem possible to us that he should be gone. We can only imagine what you, his family, and friends that have shared the joy of his company in more recent years, must be going through at this time. We will light a special candle in our house this Christmas season to honor the warm and shining memory of Mikes presence in our lives those years ago and in our hearts now and always.

With deep sympathy,
James Keegan and Anne Colwell

Daniel Zukowski

December 12, 2011

I am so very sorry for your loss. As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of your family and friends.

December 11, 2011

I am so sorry, so very sorry. My son Matt went to elementary/ midle school with Mike, and I believe we were neighbors here in Milford. Thinking of you and your family. Take care, and peace to you.
Gwen Guerke

veronica wright

December 11, 2011

You will be missed

James Keegan

December 11, 2011

My wife, Anne Colwell, was Mike's first English professor at UD, and he became a good friend of our family and a fairly regular visitor to our home while he was an undergrad and after. He was a funny, warm, compassionate, handsome, goofy young man, and Anne and I loved his company. We had so many laughs together grilling and feasting on our back porch. A scrabble game board we played once had the words "heave," "hot," and "butt" in close proximity and it became a "words to live by" joke with us. On one of my birthdays Mike bestowed a tee shirt on me with the slogan emblazoned across the chest. He was always one of those guys who seemed determined to live his life gently but with full wakefulness. We laughed with him frequently, smiled in his company always, and have wept (and will weep more yet) at the news of his far too early death. We had lost contact when his life moved out west and we have never met his wife, but to you, Elizabeth, we can only begin to imagine the depth of your loss. We extend to you and Mike's family our deepest sympathies. We were all graced with the gift of Michael's presence and are diminished by his passing. Sincerely, James Keegan.

December 11, 2011

I was not a friend of Mike's but my son Ted Healy was. He often talked of Mike and he treasured their friendship. I learned of this beautiful man and felt I knew of him through Ted's eyes.
I am so sorry his life was short but he lived well as he loved his mountains.
Joan Healy

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