John Colosimo

Friday, Jul. 18, 2025

November 25, 1955 ~ July 9, 2025

John Colosimo – husband, father, brother, grandfather, educator and coach – passed away peacefully on July 9, 2025, from complications associated with Parkinson’s disease. He was 69.

John was born in Salt Lake City on November 25, 1955, to Gale and Connie Colosimo. He was the third of eight children and was raised in Magna. Growing up, he stocked shelves and cut meat at the family’s grocery store, the Standard Market. He played sports on every team he could, and he served as an altar boy at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

He attended Kearns-St. Ann Elementary, Judge Memorial and the University of Utah, where he earned a degree in communications. Later, he completed his master’s degree in education from the University of Portland.

He began his 45-year career in education at Judge Memorial Catholic High School in 1974, first coaching while attending the University of Utah, later becoming a full-time math teacher, department chair, athletic director and head football coach. It is there where he met the love of his life, Kathie. They were married on June 25, 1988, in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

John and Kathie brought three beautiful children into this world: Gianna, Julia and Gabriel – the “fab five” as the group text read. Their schedule revolved around their favorite season, football, with every person playing their own unique role. John coached, Gianna and Julia both cheerleaders, Gabe as a player, and Kathie running the clock – ensuring that home field was always an advantage.

In 1998, John helped launch the Skaggs Catholic Center and became the first academic vice principal of Juan Diego Catholic High School. John’s vision of integrating faith and academics helped shape the school’s curriculum and identity that lives on to this day in a legacy that resulted in the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2019.

Beyond his role as vice principal, John also served as the first head football coach. Under his leadership, Juan Diego became one of the most successful programs in Utah history: eight state championships, 17 region titles and 18 straight postseason appearances. John carries the highest win percentage of any high school football coach in the state and was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. Later that year, the school named their field after him, “John Colosimo Field at Soaring Eagle Stadium.” 

Despite his success, John remained humble. If you were to ask his former players what they remember most about playing for John, they wouldn’t mention the many state titles, they would talk about how he cared more about what kind of young men they were becoming, than what the stat sheet read on Friday night. 

A funeral Mass was celebrated July 16 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Interment  followed at the Larkin Sunset Garden.

John is preceded in death by his father, Gale; his mother, Connie; his father-in-law, Ron Noble; his mother-in-law, Stella Noble; and his beloved nephew, Adam Colosimo. 

John is survived by his wife Kathie, and children Gianna, Julia Little (Brandon), and Gabe. He leaves behind one grandson, Miles, who brought so much joy in his final years; and seven siblings Roseanne Webber (Jerry), Nancy Gibbs (Dan), Galey (Beth), Paul (Sara), Mary Markosian (Jim), Larry (Jean) and Joe (Lori). 

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the newly established John Colosimo Memorial Endowment that will provide financial support to Juan Diego Catholic High School and Judge Memorial Catholic High School students in need. Donations can be made online at https://dioslc.org/endowment-705.