Ronald D. Colandrea

Ronald Colandrea, 79, of West Haven, passed away peacefully on October 1, 2025, with his family by his side after battling a terminal illness with strength and grace. Born in New Haven, he spent his childhood playing stickball in the street with his brother and friends, and baseball on the Little League and Babe Ruth teams. When Ronald was 13, his family moved to West Haven, where he remained a resident for the rest of his life. As a teen in West Haven, Ronald fished, played sports, swam at the beach and proudly considered himself a "Rock Rat" along with so many of his good friends. Ron met his future wife Mary when he was 14 years old. Ron served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Era, and married Mary while they were in their twenties. Together they were lifelong spouses, companions and best friends. They celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in July of this year. Ron and Mary raised their daughter and son in a house overlooking the beach where their starter home eventually became their retirement home. The real story of Ron's life is in how he lived it. A man of kindness, patience and care, Ron loved his family, friends, neighbors and people, and he showed his love through daily acts of kindness and service to others. He was a good and attentive listener and an even better advice giver, which prompted one friend to give him the name Doctor Ron. Ron loved music, gardening and spending time in nature. He loved strolling the beach and walked five miles daily for over 30 years. He had an appreciation for wildlife and animals, especially the family cat, Max. He had a deep desire for knowledge and learning new things, and was an avid reader who taught himself photography, woodworking and electrical wiring. Ron had a 30-year career at D&N Insulation where he had many close friendships, especially Bob and Steve. He was most in his element when spending time with family and friends. Ron treasured time with his brothers Paul and Michael; sister Barbara; and all his nieces and nephews. He loved his in-laws Kathleen, Patricia, Tim and Patty and all of their families; and his mother-in-law Margaret was like a second mother to him. Ron lived a good life. He was a husband, father, brother and neighbor and he was so good at all of those. He showed up for people and was loyal. He spent time traveling with his wife, teaching his kids to fish, vacationing with his family and taking endless family drives by the shoreline. His warmth, strength and soothing voice will forever be missed by his wife Mary, son Michael, daughter Shannon and her husband Peter. The kitchen table will never be the same without his presence where they would all spend hours talking, laughing, and reminiscing. Ron now joins his beloved family members that passed before him; his parents Pauline and Jack; mother-in-law Margaret and her husband John; Patty G., Alan P., Joan C., Alana R., Ray R., Raymond R., Danny S., John S., Paul D. and his son Paul D. Arrangements were entrusted to the West Haven Funeral Home at the Green. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on the morning of Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 10 o'clock in St. John Vianney Church of St. John XXIII Parish, 300 Captain Thomas Blvd., West Haven, CT. Please meet directly at church. Interment will be private. If you wish to do so, donations can be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 A.C. Skinner Parkway, Suite 100, Jacksonville FL 32256 or woundedwarriorproject.org. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ronald D. Colandrea, please visit our floral store.