Gerard Richard Colli Sr.

Mystic - Gerard Richard Colli Sr., 76, of Mystic, husband of Joanne Bauman Colli, died Sunday evening, June 4, 2006.

He was born in Hartford on Oct. 16, 1929, the son of George A. Sr. and Mary Burke Colli. He graduated from Cathedral High School in Springfield, Mass., in the Class of 1947.

He enlisted in the Army, volunteering to become a paratrooper. He served in the Korean War with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team and made two combat jumps while stationed in Korea. He was qualified as a jumpmaster. After his tour of duty in the Army, he went to the University of Connecticut and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business administration in 1956.

He married Joanne Bauman on Jan. 30, 1954, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hamden. After finishing his degree, he was employed by Monsanto Chemical Co. for six years, where he was a member of their Top Ten Sales Club. Mr. Colli joined Colli-Wagner Realty in Hartford and was vice president until he resigned to come to the Mystic-Groton area. He was a member of the Greater Hartford Board of Realtors' Multiple Listing Service. In 1972, he opened Trend Realty Co. and also served on the New London Board of Realtors. At that time he and his family moved from West Simsbury to Mystic. A few years later he opened the Mystic Oyster House. He also ran the Colli Realty Co. located in New London, retiring in 1996. He was a lifetime member of the 187th ARCT Association "Rakkasans" and was a member and past president of 187th ARCT Association, New England Chapter, where he was serving as treasurer at the time of his death.

He was a member of the VFW Post No. 6123, Windsor Locks. He was a volunteer for the TVCCA Program, the Cancer Society and served with the Ministry of the Sick at St. Patrick Church, Mystic. He loved boating and his boat, the "Colliflower," was well known in this area. Block Island, Greenport and Sag Harbor were among his favorite ports of call. He was a communicant of St. Patrick Church.

In addition to his wife of 52 years, he is survived by their children and their families, Daniel T. Colli and Diane Krueger of Mystic, Thomas J. Colli of Ledyard, Jean M. and Richard Gambuto of Westerly, Mark E. and Heather Colli of Ledyard, Lawrence F. Colli Sr. of Preston and Steven M. Sr. and Julie Colli of Preston. His grandchildren are Lisa J. Carling, Conrad D. Carling, Lawrence F. Colli Jr., Steven Michael Colli Jr. and Aliyah W. Colli. He is also survived by a brother, George A. Colli Jr. of Ellington; a sister, Lois M. Colli, of Suffield; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a son, Gerard R. Colli Jr.; and not to be forgotten, he will be greatly missed by his faithful furry buddy, Tinker.

A Funeral Mass will be held at noon on Thursday, June 8, 2006, at St. Patrick Church, Mystic, followed by burial with full military honors at Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic. Relatives and friends are invited to attend and may also call at Mystic Funeral Home, Route 1, Mystic, this evening from 6 to 8.

In lieu of flowers, his family would like to suggest memorial contributions in his name be considered for the National Kidney Foundation of Connecticut, 2139 Silas Deane Highway, Rocky Hill CT 06067.

The Colli family invites you to visit www.mysticfuneralhome.com for obituary information, directions, and an online memorial register to leave a note of condolence.