Dear Pat, John and Rachel - remembering your devastating loss when dear Gary left his earthy life two years ago.  He loved you all so much it was plain to see, as you all loved him beyond words.  I’ll never forget him and I am so thankful for each visit we shared.  I’ll never stop praying for you either, asking comfort in such a life changing loss.

We love you,
Linda and Tim

So sorry for your loss, I was reminiscing about my high school years and immediately thought of Gary. He was my history teacher from his days in NYC from all the way back to 2001!!

Unfortunately I found out about his death today, hit me like a ton of bricks. He was a beautiful person inside and out.

- F.

Precious Gary, your loved Ones - Mom, John, Rachel especially have been grieving over their loss of you for 365 days, plus 1 now.  My heart grieves for you too.  I loved the smiles you’d share with us each time we saw you - such genuine smiles and always questions about how we were.  I look back on the delight of you, Mom, Rachel and I believe John too, coming over on Christmas to deliver the beautiful basket full of goodies!  Your beautiful yellow rose bushes are blooming for your Mom.  We see them too, and smile.  We’ll be together again, sweet Gary, thanks to our 
Savior’s sacrificial atoning death that restores those to God who believe.  Until we meet again …….we love you.  Tim and Linda

I just heard about this sad news. I went to school with Gary through 10th grade. He was a great friend back then. Always a fun character who brightened the day. My thought and prayers for his family. 

My heart is truly aches for Mr. Coletti’s friends and family. He was truly a special person and amazing teacher. I can’t imagine being a public school HS teacher in NYC but he did it with such ease and grace. My heart feels heavy knowing that such an amazing soul has left this earth but not without leaving its mark. 

HSES class of 04 

I was terribly saddened when I heard the news about Gary. I met him several times at BORI seminars that I attended as a teacher of History for Boston Public Schools. He was engimatic to say the least and so helpful to me when I spoke to him about the special needs of my students with disabilities. I will always treasure the materials he gave to me for my classroom and remember his friendly voice and smiling face. I offer my sincere condolences to his family, friends and co-workers. He will be sorely missed by all who were fortunate enough to have met him.

I first met Gary at my son Caleb's bachelor party. Even though everyone was waiting to meet this wonderful new friend of Caleb's, when he arrived at our table, I mistook him for either the mayor of  Richmond or the owner of the venue or some other local celebrity.  The memory of Gary's electric personality - his immediacy, his humor, his kindness - are forever imprinted on my heart.  Few people have made such a powerful first impression on me as this remarkable, keen-witted, lovely, lovely man. In all of my later experiences with Gary, this first impression was even more magnified and enhanced. To me, Gary was the embodiment of true mindfulness, grace, and goodness. 


I had the great pleasure of meeting Gary when he applied to work at the Bill of Rights Institute. It was his sincerity and caring attitude toward others that stood out immediately and what prompted a quick hire to bring such a talented and intelligent educator to the staff of BRI. Gary will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him. There are no words for such an unimaginable loss. My prayers go out to his family and colleagues during this difficult time. 
Lucy Morgan



I have incredibly fond memories of working with Gary. I taught Gary in a graduate course in comparative and international education a few years ago, and worked with him on the #60above60 project that was launched as part of a GW project called Arctic PIRE. I remember Gary's thoughtful engagement in the course, his wit, and his creativity. Gary was one of a kind, and I consider myself very fortunate to have gotten to know him and to learn from him. My deepest condolences to Gary's family and his friends mourning his loss.

Mr. Colletti was a great man. Funny, creative, relatable, caring. He made the days better at school, I had class with him for History and I always looked forward to drama after school with him.  He was an amazing role model - someone I looked up to.  I'm blessed to have great laughs and fond memories with him. I'm so sad he's left us so soon. May he rest in peace. 

We only hung out on a handful of occasions thanks to our mutual friend Jon Valuckas, but Gary always made me feel as though we’d been friends for years.  I admired his ease in social settings, and he was a very funny guy.  His absence will be felt deeply by those that were fortunate enough to spend time with him.

Mr. Colletti, you were an amazing teacher and person. I was fortunate enough to have you as my teacher for 10th grade Ethics and 11th grade Sociology. I didn't have a lot of great role models growing up, so after knowing you for 2+ years, I distinctly remember thinking that regardless of what I studied or did later in life, YOU were the type of person I always wanted to strive to be like: interesting, clever, hilarious, and ridiculously smart. You were a huge reason I chose to go to Binghamton University, because if I left Binghamton even half as brilliant as you, I'd consider that a win. 

I can't imagine how challenging it is to be a public high school teacher in NYC, but you made it look effortless and it was easy to see that your students respected you because you always made time and brought out the best in them. I will always appreciate the thought provoking lectures and assignments from HS, and cherish the fact that they still impact my life today (the list of 100 things!) 

My heart goes out to everyone else who is coping with this immense loss. There will truly never be anyone else like you, and I am so grateful for having had the chance to know you, albeit relatively briefly. 

Mr.Colletti played a vibrant role in my High School career. Most days when I was at my loneliest, I felt he was the only one who understood me and he made me very hopeful for my future. Re-reading what he wrote in my year book, the last part says "You will always be OK if you keep your sense of humor! I'll be around." ​

He was such an amazing spirit and touched so many lives. You will be missed Mr.C

Mr. Colletti was one of those rare teachers that leave such a lasting impact. For many of us, he was one of our first teachers as we entered high school. He made the transition not only easy, but fun. He was always so energetic and engaging in and out of the classroom. I had always been interested in participating in the school plays but lacked the confidence. Mr. Colletti believed in me hard enough for the two of us until I learned to believe in myself. He instilled confidence in me that I carry with me to this day. I saw as he touch the lives of my fellow classmates in the same ways. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have learned and bonded with Mr. Colletti. Thank you for everything.  May his memory be a blessing.

VHS class of 2015

One of my favorite teachers at Environmental Studies. Mr. Colletti was a large part of the reason I went to college for psychology. My heart is heavy tonight. My thoughts are with his family.

Gary brought out the best in people. He recognized your value, celebrated your differences, and validating your feelings. He is one of those people you are lucky to meet in your lifetime.  He was joyful, funny, charismatic, and had a personality larger than life. This world now has a void that cannot be filled. We will miss him so much. 

"One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life. That word is Love."
Socrates, Greek philosopher  km

The sudden and unexpected loss of my cousin Gary is hard to understand and even harder to accept. My heart aches for his wife, my Aunt Pat and cousin Johnny. Growing up I always had a fondness for Gary, how could you not?He was interesting,hilarious, brilliant and above all else…kind. Life moving forward and the physical distance between us did not allow us to be as close in adulthood as I would have liked, but the memories I have of watching home videos together or getting our $5 and a chocolate bunny from Grandma Colletti or talking about Civil War stuff and just being together laughing and being care free kids will never be forgotten. Gary’s memory will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone who knew him, that much I know for sure. 

Mr. Colletti had such a big impact on my life. He was there for me through some of the roughest and darkest moments. I remember when my grandmother died and I came back to school he was right there waiting to support me. He always provided a laugh when needed, let me cry when I needed to, and always was there to talk to. I remember going to his classroom and just venting to him some days and going to him when I was doubting myself. 

He taught me so much more than just history and he was so much more than a drama director. He was witty, sharp, funny, supportive, compassionate… I could name adjectives forever. He taught me that I matter, my voice matters, and doing what I believe is right matters. Even if others don’t agree with me. Every year he would write me a meaningful message in my yearbook, I still read them to this day. His words still impact me and I remember all of his advice. I know I’m not the only student he had such a large impact on. That’s just how great he was. It’s hard to believe the world has lost such a vibrant, passionate, and caring person. He will forever be missed. 

Gary brought a unique light to the world. While our paths crossed only briefly, I remember him fondly and with lots of laughter. 

With deepest sympathy,
Elizabeth Rogers Brannen 

  

It’s hard to pick a memory when we spent 3 years working together in Drama Club. I remember you telling me you lost the recording of your self created play “Avatar: The Musical”. And you said that some great things only deserve to be remembered. 

I remember asking you if teaching made you happy, and you said you love your students but you wanted the freedom to do more of what you love. You told me about how you used to take students to theatrical competitions, how you used your own time/money/resources to put on the shows each year because if you didn’t, who would?

I remember the year you said you needed more help, it may have been because Lamont was leaving I’m not 100% sure, but then who came into the picture? Your lovely now-wife Rachel! Ask and you shall receive, right? ❤️ I remember every single student losing their minds at the fact that your last name was Colletti and hers was IaColletti. What are the odds? Likely small, but just perfect for y’all to meet and fall in love.

Colletti…you were sharp, witty, cultured, and downright vampiric. We joked you had no age and were simply a Renaissance man. I think that’s why the idea of you not being here is all the more devastating. You take the light you brought into the world with you wherever you’ve gone now. But I’m sure wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, you’re doing it in full Gary style no-stop. You’ll always have space in my heart for the impact you left on my life. The curtain has finally closed, but you have a standing ovation waiting for you. Thank you for everything you gave to us. 

Xoxo, Ashley (who you’d never call by her first name) Palkovics 💜

As a student of Mr Colletti he made me understand that I’m somebody and I could do something. While most saw me as a problem child, he saw me and spoke positivity into my life.  Even after I was no longer in his class he made it a thing to check on me  and that always meant so much to me. I’m glad I got to run into him as an adult and show him how well things are for me. He was a great teacher and a even greater person. I’ll always remember his talks and I still use things he taught me to navigate life.

I will always be thankful for Gary as an inspiring educator at Varina who taught both of my boys. They still speak highly of him and how he always got them involved and talking about history. They were actually excited to write papers for his class! Our family is sorry to hear of his passing. Our prayers to the family. 

Gary, thank you for being a wonderful teacher, person and friend to my sister. I remember how great it was to come observe you in NYC to fulfill my teacher observation hours. I will cherish the New Year’s Eve we got spend to together with my husband, sister and Pete. May your memory be a blessing to all that knew you. 

Gary used to always say he preferred to have too much information than too little, so here we go. Gary added to my life in so many meaningful ways, both big and small, that it is only now when I stop to think about what I wanted to write, that I realize how impactful that actually was. Gary believed in this had been teacher when not many (or any) other employers did. He provided so many opportunities for me at the Bill of Rights Institute, two of which literally changed the trajectory of my life. I may joke that he volun-told me to co-host the podcast with him and Mary, but it became my favorite part of the job and encompasses so many memories that I'd go past the max length they have capped me at here. One of my favorite laughs was when we were recording our podcast about the Lusitania and Gary said, "I guess you could say they went down in history...[pause]...too soon?" I was really rooting for that to become the title of the episode. I will also be eternally grateful that Gary's judge of great character led him to hire someone who has become a close friend outside of work. Gary loved the Bachelor franchise, but I'd say he was a better matchmaker himself! I truly believe that a huge part of Gary's legacy are the inordinate amount of relationships he cultivated over the years and I am forever grateful for this. Whenever I feel myself getting sad again, I remember one of the best stories Gary ever told me. He was driving through Richmond and saw what looked like a stray dog, so he went to help it (so Gary) but the dog ran off. So he got back in his car and followed the dog. However, the dog rounded a corner and disappeared. But then, Gary saw a cat, and this man pulled over and rolled down his window, about to ask the cat if he had seen where the dog went. I still cry laugh when I remember this story and I hope it brings others some joy as well. My last day of work at BRI, Gary said, "There will never be another Eryn." But truly, there will never be another Gary. 

I met Gary back in HS at a speech tournament. We both were competing in the same category, Duo, and didn’t often compete against each other as he was out on Long Island and I was in Queens. Any time we were at the same tournament we hung out and I just remember laughing so much. It’s hardly a revelation to say that I was an uptight kid, but Gary was always able to get me outside myself and exist in the moment.

When I went to Binghamton University and started poking around Watters Lobby, lo and behold, there was Gary as well! I won’t claim that we were the closest of friends but I will say that my every interaction with him was joyful. I don’t know how he moved through the world in such a free and beautiful way, understanding others with a degree of empathy I can barely fathom, but that was the Gary I knew and always appreciated. 

I feel blessed to have known him and the light that he brought to the world. His joyful spirit will be missed and cherished. 

Gary was always there to cheer you on. His kind and uplifting nature was infectious, and I know that lives on in the hearts of those who knew him. 

I am heartbroken to hear the devastating news of the passing of my dear baby cousin Gary. I have so many fond memories growing up with my aunt Pat, uncle John, John and Gary. We spent every Christmas Eve,  Easter and many more holidays together and I have so many fond memories. Gary was such a kind, gentle soul who always brought a smile to anyone who was in his presence. He will be missed by all. May you all find comfort knowing that Gary is now with uncle John and they are watching over and protecting you all.  May Gary rest in eternal peace. My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to you all and I’m here if you need anything at all! XOXO

While I haven't seen Gary since we graduated from Binghamton University, we were loosely connected on Facebook and exchanged comments from time to time. I always knew him as an upbeat, fun person who was quick with a comment and tried his best to lighten the mood. The thing that stuck out in my mind was the fact that he called me, "Joe". I thought it was just a familiar term he used for me but he ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS MY NAME! That went on for 3 years until a rather comical conversation occured with a mutual friend when this came to light. I think this was just exemplary of his light-hearted nature and he will no doubt be missed. I am sure that others enjoyed his company and that his memory is and will be a blessing.

Gary was an inspiration to everyone who knew him. We were both friends with him while members of the Darby Players together in Chaminade High School’s theater program as teenagers. Gary was so funny and witty, and not only was he brilliant, he was kind and always a good friend. We know that in his adult life, he had a tremendous impact on the many young people he taught, helped, and encouraged. He is fondly remembered and deeply missed. Our deepest condolences to his wife, Rachel, his family, and his close friends. Gary is in our hearts, and you are in our thoughts and prayers. 

I had the honor of working with Gary for the last few years at the Bill of Rights Institute. Working with Gary was such a delight. I joked with him that he was my Myers Briggs opposite (which he was)---cheerful, outgoing, philosophical.  
The last thing he said to me I think reflects the sort of person he was. He sent me a quick message after a preparatory call for an upcoming podcast on baseball. He thanked me for my perspective and questions. It was thoughtful and sincere. He was a real cheerleader. As busy as he was, as stressed as he must have been with all the tasks, projects, travel, and meetings he juggled, I *never* heard him say a negative thing. He was the best teammate. 
Gary loved to ask questions. I used to joke with him that if I were in his class, I would constantly be ducking my head down. He would always lob a really deep question into the fray, one that made me think, “CRAP! I don’t know how to answer that!” I know he relished that and it was second nature to him. I think he delighted in challenging everyone to make their thinking visible, like truly excellent teachers do.
Gary always insisted I was the “voice” of our podcast, but he was the heart. I can’t believe that he is gone, and I can’t imagine filling the giant hole he leaves behind in our team. 
My deepest thoughts and prayers are with his family. 


The few photos and many memories I have are from our carousing in NYC back in the day. We had such fun in our small group of awesome weirdos, and I loved that Gary seemed really enthusiastic to see me in a four-hour avant-garde play (seriously, what a guy). I will remember him as great company, with sparkling conversation tinged alternately with clever zingers and genuine kindness. It meant the world to stay connected a bit once we both left the city, especially when my dad was ill and the holidays sucked. I think it's safe to say that Gary did well by his friends and will be remembered with more affection than we'll know what to do with.

I’ve known you for years now by way of your wife, and although we were not personally close- I so very much loved the way you loved my friend (Rachel). The two of you lit up around one another, and you brought out the very best in her. I’ll never forget meeting you on your sort of first, maybe second, date at my wedding. You were an excellent pseudo bridal party member! I don’t know if Rachel ever told you that I’d actually heard all about you for a long time before actually meeting you. You changed her life for the better, and subsequently that makes me so grateful for you. We will miss you! 

Gary you where the best Captain Hook I have ever seen in your performance at SHA play Peter Pan. Your laughter with school experiments at my house with Jerry, John and Neil...I went through two dozen eggs... Teaching religion with Jerry at St. Thomas the Apostle..taking Shannon's cabbage patch doll for baptism..you being the Pope at religion teaching the faith..I remember you taking Shannon to her 9th grade colitition  at SHA..you were a big brother #2 to Michael always joking and having fun. I also remember you and Jerry driving cross country on a road trip, camping out under the stars...Your love for your family was strong..and your love for Rachel the strongest. We love you and I know you are always with Cee Cee..Those we love don't go away they walk beside us everyday, unseen, unheard,but always near. Still loved, still missed and forever dear. to us all..


I haven't seen Gary in decades - not since we graduated from Binghamton University in the late 1990s. But when I close my eyes I see him as he was then. Smart and creative and thoughtful and funny and kind. Facebook kept us loosely connected for years, and for that I am grateful. 

Wishing his family comfort in their time of mourning. May his memory be a blessing. 

I only had the privilege of meeting Gary once.  It was here in S. Florida on the 23rd and 24 of October.  I found him engaging, intelligent, personable and he made me feel welcome at a seminar on the Presidents as I returned to Socratic discussion with other teachers.  Gary impressed me as a man dedicated to the education of his peers.  I was deeply impressed and am saddened at his passing.  I was hoping to meet him again and gain more insights into teaching.  He made an impression on me.

I had the privilege of working with Gary through the Bill of Rights Institute. I found him to be an encourager, supporter, and lively teacher friend. He is irreplaceable!    My condolences his family, coworkers and friend who are grieving his loss.

I had Mr. Colletti as a freshman WHII teacher in 2012. Man, he was a gem. Completely underrated as a teacher and under appreciated. He taught us lecture style, and his class was always a joy. He didn’t treat us as 14 year old high school students. He challenged our opinions and debated, spoke to us with respect and understanding. After that school year, I tried to remain in touch since he left the school a couple years later to pursue his masters. While watching the Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, since I myself was a hardcore Bernie fan, out of nowhere popped Mr. Colletti asking Bernie Sanders questions. I remember screaming, “THAT’S MY TEACHER! THAT’S MR. COLLETTI!” I was so excited! As I said before, a true gem of an educator, an intellectual. He will truly be missed, but I am thankful for the time spent with him as his student. 

OBITUARY

Gary Alexander Colletti

July 23, 1975 – November 5, 2021

Demaine Funeral Home

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