Victor Louis Colonnetta

Victor Louis Colonnetta passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at the age of nearly 82. Like many Italians, his parents, Alice Pontello Colonnetta and Anthony Colonnetta, were a team their entire professional lives. Victor was seven years old when his parents sold their laundry and linen supply businesses in Houston and moved to Austin to continue in those businesses. There were two moves of that business before land was purchased and two side by side buildings were built housing Anthony’s Laundry and Nau’s Pharmacy. Ownership has changed through the years but the names have remained on the corner of Twelfth and West Lynn as the cornerstone of a growing commitment to the Enfield, Clarksville, West Lynn and surrounding borders. With Victor’s leadership and, now his son Michael’s, the development of properties has spread throughout the Austin area.

Victor’s generation grew up in the environment where a hand shake sealed a bargain and your word was the seal that closed many deals. Throughout his life this was his abiding philosophy. During his ownership of an Austin Travel Agency he developed innovations to help state agencies provide a better way of the reimbursement of personal funds when traveling on state business. Between the Texas Education Agency and his travel agency he was able to coordinate teachers and students throughout the state that were competing on the National level to fly and be housed in such a way to allow the teachers to just concentrate on their students and not worry about how they would get there and back.

Moving temporarily to Durango, Colorado (which turned into thirteen years) to recover from heart problems he never the less set about to carve his nitch in a small community whose permanent residents did not like Texans nor Californians invading their paradise, so he made sure that before he even went to his ranch that he had changed his Texas plates to Colorado ones He never lost his “twang” nor his love of his home state but it was a hard choice to return to Texas to take care of business. While there he became a member of the Colorado Mounted Rangers who once were like our Texas Rangers and hunted down the bad guys. They were de-commissioned but remain under the umbrella of the County Sheriff’s department and are called out on rescue missions today. Horses were the mode of travel in the mountains and you had to be ready within 30 minutes with horse, trailer and provision to be self-sustaining for 24 hours. By the time he returned to Austin he was the Commanding officer (Colonel Elect) of the four troops throughout Colorado.

One of Victor’s greatest joy was in helping his “city” grandchildren learn to ski, ride horses, camp in the mountains, (wash dishes) explore the Indian life style, build tree houses using forty pounds of nails and help them to become independent young men and women. Inside his briefcase when he was working was the quote “Selling begins when you hear “No”. He applied that to every aspect of his life.

Victor is predeceased by his parents, Anthony and Alice Pontello Colonnetta, a great grandchild Abigale Warren, and his first wife Betty Colonnetta.

He is survived by his wife, Marie Jo Bailey Colonnetta, Children: Son Michael Colonnetta and wife, Becky and daughter: Cathy Colonnetta Sandoval of Buda Texas. Daughters: Debbie Colonnetta Magin and husband Donny, Susan Colonnetta Castillo and husband Ronny of Seguin, Texas. He is also survived by a Son: Larry Blalock and wife Donna of Orange, Texas, Daughters: Jackie Blalock Contos, Janet Blalock Griffith and husband Paul, Terri Blalock Bouwmans and husband Jimmy of Austin, Texas and daughter Melissa Blalock Briggs and husband J. L. of Llano, Texas. To cherish his legacy and memory he is survived by twenty grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Victor gave of himself to people and projects with enthusiasm that never wavered. He loved the challenge to find the proper outcome in everything he did. When Promise Keepers was an active organization it fortified his objective to be a better man and father. He was very active in all aspects of the Catholic Church until his health prevented his participation. He is a past officer of the Knights of Columbus, Andice Men’s Prayer group, and served on the altar until he was unable to navigate the steps after a stroke. In charity giving he “put his money where his mouth was”. He loved God first, his family second (as God requires) and his church.

His family would like to thank Dr. Goersh, Dr. Rallingson and Dr. Caruso of the Veteran’s Administration health system for diligently trying to fulfill his health needs and also Dr. Jennifer Clark of the Scott & White system for her unyielding objective to give his as much quality of life she could. Our special thanks to the staff at AGE of Central Texas adult day care of Round Rock, especially Lauren and Marilyn who fed, entertained loved him unconditionally. Thanks to all of those listed above who helped his family keep him a longer span of time. You will forever be in our prayers.

Visitation will be at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas on Friday, June 19, 2015 at 6:00 pm. Rosary services will commence at 7:00pm. The Funeral Mass will be a Santa Rosa Catholic Church in Andice, Texas at 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 20, 2015. Burial will be at Assumption Cemetery directly after the Mass.

Arrangements by Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564.