Uncle Pete
My Uncle Peter Michael Colarusso was born on February 17, 1945 at Boston City Hospital. His father Ralph Colarusso and his mother Irene (Haverty) Colarusso were both 28 at the time of his birth. He had two brothers (Ralph and Tom) and three sisters (Ellie, Lisa, and Paula). My uncle grew up at 362 Sumner Street in East Boston until his parents bought a house on 72 Montvale Ave in Roslindale, later the family moved to Tewksbury. He went to Our Lady of the Assumption School in East Boston, English High School, and graduated from Sacred Heart High School of East Boston in 1962.
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Peter enlisted in the Army National Guard on June 21, 1965 and was discharged six years later on June 20, 1971, at his home station in Lexington, MA. He was a chaplain's assistant and his military qualification was SS Badge for Rifle M1 para 4 SO 36 Hq 26th Infantry Division Artillery. Peter never married or had children, but had lots of nieces and nephews who loved him. He worked in finance for most of his life. A 1967 directory has Peter working at New England Merchants and he worked at other various financial institutions over the years. Peter ended his career after working for a long stretch at Reebok in Canton, MA.
It was at Reebok where Peter met his coworker, friend, and landlord, Ann. On December 13, 1997, Peter looked at an apartment Ann had available for rent and within 10 minutes, he made the decision to take it. Ann shared: "Moving day was Feb 1, 1998 and I held my breath as his piano went up the stairs. Peter made that apartment his home and he had amazing talent for decorating. His cooking skills put me to shame. Every year, he had a vegetable garden and the baskets of vegetables he brought to our department at Reebok would be emptied within minutes. He lived at his home in Halifax for 15 years. I will always miss having Peter as my neighbor and friend."
My uncle was creative in many ways. He liked photography, painting, drawing, gardening, and playing piano. I was told he played the piano by ear! Peter moved a lot and that piano went with every move: Brookline, West Roxbury, Randolph, and Halifax to name a few locations. Pete enjoyed playing cards with his nephews, reading the newspaper, and doing crossword puzzles. He was a pro at putting up wallpaper and painting—and not just as a side job, he painted several artistic murals. I do remember a birch tree mural he painted at his Dent Street apartment in West Roxbury and I always thought it was so cool. He also had a flair for photography—which I did not learn about until after he passed—when I found some of his photographs:
I asked my family to contribute some memories they have of my uncle. My aunt Paula said that he loved Christmas, bought the best presents, and especially liked the movies A Christmas Story and A Charlie Brown Christmas. She said that he even taped A Christmas Story on VHS and she now has that tape. In addition, Pete signed his Christmas cards with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." My aunt also said that he was a fantastic cook and that everything he made was delicious, especially his Italian Anise cookies and homemade salad dressing. My mother said that he made the best meatballs—I finally got my hands on his recipe, from a recipe book my aunt Paula put together as a gift for my cousin Andrea.
A Kitchen Limerick
If ever you enter my kitchen,
and ask if I'd mind if you pitch in,
I'd rather you not,
Come close to my pot...
Best believe, if you do, you'll hear bitchin'by Pete Colarusso
In October 1979, Pope John Paul II visited Boston. Peter and my Aunt Paula couldn't pass up the opportunity to see the Pope and took the train into town on a very chilly and drizzly fall day. They headed to the Boston Common because they heard that would be the best location to spot the Pope and got within five feet of him. Running across to the side where the Pope was turning, they got another close-up view. It was a great day and memory for my both my aunt and uncle.
My uncle Tom shared this memory: "Uncle Pete was sent one time to get five cones of ice cream. He came back with all peppermint which no one liked, so he ate them all!"
Several family members shared how much joy it brought Peter to light off fireworks at the 4th of July parties that my uncle Tom threw in Tewksbury—having so much fun with his brother Tom and brother-in-law Dave. I also remember those family parties fondly—I think it's where I first tried steamers.
When I first moved into my own apartment, I had a little family housewarming—so many people gathered inside my tiny studio apartment. Pete's gift to me was a collection of spices. It was such a fitting gift from him and I always think of Pete when I'm cooking. Macaroons make me think of Pete as well, he loved macaroons and snuck them when he wasn't supposed to be eating anything at all. We even toasted him with macaroons after his funeral. I love plants and have many in my apartment—and while some don't survive—I am proud to say I still have a plant of Peter's that I took home when we cleaned out his apartment. I hope it lasts for many years to come. To the left is a painting I did of Peter's plant.
I think my uncle is one of the most determined and brave people I have known. He handled his diagnosis of esophageal cancer with so much dignity and grace. I don't think I could have faced what he took on, especially in such the steadfast way he did. He fought until the end—which came too soon on January 18, 2013, at the age of 67. He is buried at Central Cemetery in Halifax, MA. We all still miss him dearly.