COLICCHIO, REVEREND RALPH

Reverend Ralph Michael Colicchio of Waterbury died peacefully on July 8, 2020 at the Cheshire House with his family by his side. He was born in Waterbury on July 28, 1940 a son of the late Michael and Lucy Ciminera Colicchio. Father Ralph was a graduate of Kaynor Technical Regional high School and began his seminary education at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield and then went on to complete his philosophy studies and theological training at Christ the King Seminary in St. Bonaventure, New York. At the conclusion of his seminary formation, he was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Reverend John F. Hackett at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford on May 4, 1967. He celebrated his first Mass at St. Francis Church in Waterbury. Fr. Colicchio’s early assignments were as an assistant at St. Thomas Church in Goshen, St. Anthony Church in Bristol, St. Rose Church in New Haven, St. Lucy Church in Waterbury, St. Augustine Church in North Branford, and Christ the King Church in Bloomfield. He then spent several years as a Co-Pastor and Administrator of St. Mary Magdalen Church in Oakville before beginning a stretch of Chaplaincy work in 1990 at Hartford Hospital and 1994 at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He would spend the next several years serving the parish communities of St. Casimir Church in New Haven, St. Elizabeth Church in Branford, St. Clare Church in East Haven, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Hamden. Fr. Colicchio was then sent to work in New Haven to lead the people of St. Anthony Church and Sacred Heart Church before concluding his final years as a Pastor at St. Michael Church, where he remained until his retirement in 2015. Father Ralph was the brother of Richard (Eileen) Colicchio, uncle of Deborah Ann Vieiera, Richard Michael (David Howard) Colicchio and Mark Andrew (Yaitza) Colicchio and great-uncle of Emily and Nathan Vieiera, Joseph and Eric Nash, Mark Andrew Colicchio Jr., Christopher and Lily Colicchio and Yaseline Whitehead.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a family only visitation and Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by the Most Reverend Juan Miguel Bettancourt, SEMV will be held privately with Fr. Ralph’s family and brother Priests. Burial will be privately held in New St. Joseph Cemetery in Waterbury. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael Church, 29 Wooster Place New Haven, CT 06511. Share a memory and sign Fr. Ralph’s guest book online at www.iovanne.com. The Iovanne

Funeral Home, Inc. is in care of his arrangements.