Philip Dalla Antonelli

Philip Dalla Antonelli passed away peacefully on June 23, 2013 surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife Romana; children Therese Landin, Philip Antonelli II, Cecilia Goergen, and Mark Antonelli and step-children Andreina Pier, Carla Pier, and Mario Heinbaugh, and eight grandchildren.

Phil was born in Silverton, CO on July 27, 1924 to Fidenzio and Rena Antonelli, immigrants from the Austrian Südtirol which later became the autonomous Italian province of Trentino-Alto Adige. Phil’s pride in his heritage was exhibited in his later life by his involvement with the Tirolesi-Trentini del Colorado where he served for many years as club president and reigned proudly as Polenta King.

Phil graduated from Silverton High school in 1942. Following high school he was drafted into the US Army where he served in the field artillery of the 3rd US Army under the command of Lt. General George S. Patton. Arriving in France one month after D-Day, Phil saw front-line duty for nine consecutive months with Patton from the breakout in Normandy to Victory in Europe. Service to the country he loved remained the proudest accomplishment of his life and he was honored by being a part of the 60th anniversary of D-day where he a sat in close proximity to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Locally, he was recognized by the Colorado Rockies who asked him to throw out the first pitch on July 4th 2007 in the game against the New York Mets.

Following the war, Phil returned to Colorado where he attended Regis College graduating in 1949 with a degree in economics. At Regis he played basketball for coach and life-long friend Larry Varnell. Nicknamed the “Buzz Boys” by legendary Denver Post sports writer Ralph Moore – another great friend -- Phil’s Regis team went on to win the National Catholic Invitational tournament which in the days before the NCAA’s was a highly competitive event. At Regis Phil developed an attachment to the college which was to remain an important part of his life; his war memorabilia is a part of the collection at the Regis’s Center for the War Experience.

After graduation Phil taught math, history and economics at Regis High School where he coached the basketball team to 2 consecutive state Catholic High School championships. The trophy case at the Regis H.S was recently named in his honor. Phil left teaching in the mid-1950s and entered the business world where he had a successful career selling everything from explosives to seismic data.

He spent his retirement years traveling and living the passions he had developed over the course of his life – serving God, his family, and the educational institutions that had helped shape his life. Services for Phil will be conducted on Friday June 28 at Regis College Chapel, 3333 Regis Blvd, Denver, CO with a viewing at 1 PM, Rosary at 2 PM and Mass at 2:30 PM. Friends are invited to share memories and break bread with the family at a reception following Mass.

A memorial fund has been established for memorial contributions to be made in memory of Philip D. Antonelli. donations can be made using the following information:

FirstBank

FBO In the Memory of Philip D. Antonelli

10367 Federal Boulevard

Westminster, CO 80260