Daniel Peter Colapinto

Springfield - Daniel Peter Colapinto, 75, of Lawton Street, Springfield, died at his home on Thursday evening April 29,2004. Dan was born in Springfield, June 28,1928,son of the late Peter and Beatrice (DiBello) Colapinto. Dan was a 1945 graduate of Springfield Technical High School, and also attended Texas A&M. A Veteran of World War II, he served his country proudly in the U.S. Air force, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division, bravely as one of its paratroopers. Following his honorable discharge, Dan continued his education and graduated from Springfield College, where he majored in Physical Education.  He went on to teach Physical Education for over 25 years at the Forest Park Junior High School, retiring in 1989. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church, Springfield. Dan was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox, and was also an accomplished swimmer. In his later years he developed a great interest in computers. The most important joy of his life was that of his family, whom, he leaves to forever cherish his memory: His beloved wife Dorothy "Dottie" (Hood) Colapinto, with whom he would have been married to for 50 years on May 15th of this year, his devoted children, a son David of Washington, D.C., a daughter and son in law Donna and Peter Haggins of Springfield, his dear sister and brother in law Angie and Robert McLaughlin of Somers, Connecticut, his 2 special grandchildren Erica Haggins and Brian Haggins both of  Springfield, and his two joyous great grandchildren Justin and William Dandurand. Dan also leaves several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Dan's funeral will be held on Tuesday (May 4,2004) 9:00 A.M. from the Tylunas Funeral Home, 159 Broadway, Chicopee, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:00 A.M., in Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church, 51 Rosewell Avenue, Springfield. Burial will follow in St. Patrick's Cemetery, on Fuller Road, Chicopee. Dan's family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday (May 3,2004) from 4 to 8 PM. Floral tributes are welcome, or if you wish, expressions of sympathy maybe made to the Massachusetts Association for the Blind, 146 Chestnut St., Suite 401, Springfield, Mass. 01103.