June 13, 2000

To:  The Obituary Section

From:  Jerome Colonna, Justin Colonna’s father
 

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JUSTIN ANTHONY COLONNA

February 26, 1976 to December 18, 1999

Justin Anthony Colonna died on December 18, 1999 while descending South Arapaho Peak about 20 miles west of Boulder, Colorado.  He died pursuing an activity he truly loved.  John Snyder, a member of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, found his body on June 10.  Memorial services were held at the University of Colorado on January 22 and at the University of Oregon on March 5.

Justin Colonna was born on February 26, 1976 in Corvallis, Oregon.  At age nine he moved to Eugene and graduated from Sheldon High School.  From 1994 until his death he attended the University of Colorado where he majored in Communications and Humanities.  He graduated posthumously on May 12, 2000.

Justin enjoyed fine films, classic literature, Renaissance art, philosophy, soccer and all types of music, especially jazz.  He was an avid outdoorsman and had a great love for skiing, backcountry hiking and mountain biking.  Smith Rock State Park was one of his favorite places Oregon.

He is survived by his sister, Ann Colonna a graduate student at the University of California at Davis, his mother, Susan Lange a second grade teacher at Thurston Elementary School in Springfield, his stepfather, Chuck Lange a teacher at Thurston High School in Springfield and his father Jerome Colonna, Superintendent of the Redmond School District.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group at P.O. Box Y, Boulder, Colorado, 80306 or to the Justin Colonna Memorial Fund at Peak National Bank, 26 S., Peak to Peak Highway, Nederland, Colorado, 80466.  The resources in these funds will be used to expand rescue effort capabilities and purchase emergency equipment that skiers, hikers and rock climbers can use before heading into the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area.

Arrangements were made by Erlinger Funeral Services of Boulder, Colorado.