I can’t think of a better Monongah High Fathers Day article than one centered on the Colisino brothers.

All five served in World War II. And they all survived to live out their lives for decades. As fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers.

Ronda Colisino of Clarksburg, daughter of Carmen Colisino, one of the five brothers who were Monongah’s version of the famous Sullivan brothers but with a happier ending, and Ann VanGilder Colisino, started me thinking about it. Larry Colisino was Ronda’s brother.

Carmen’s parents were Mary DeSalvo Colisino and James Colisino. His brothers were Patsy, Louis “Skeeter,” Frederick, who lived in Baxter, and Anthony. Their sisters were Flora Payne, Elizabeth Marano and Rosemary Klam.

Carmen’s daughters are Karen Miller and companion Richard Edwards and Rhonda Colisino and companion Charles Pinnell. His daughter-in-law is Cindy Colisino.

Carmen, who was stationed in Alaska during World War II, later was a captain in the police reserves. He loved to fish and hunt, but threw the fish back most of the time and never killed a deer. He loved to garden, particularly raising blackberries.

Ronda recalls: “Mom and dad bought their property in Monongah in 1950. My father was Catholic but marrying my mom who was Methodist he converted so that they both became members of the First United Methodist church of Monongah."

Patsy’s sons are Harry James Colisino, 1974 Mannington High graduate, married to Bev Morgan Colisino, Class of 1974;  Patsy Colisino, Jr., Class of 1975, who lives in Barrackville and works at Fairmont General Hospital; and Robert Louis Colisino. He had 2 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

 

In 1975, Patsy the papa earned his GED from Fairmont West High School and was the longest continuous resident of Carolina, having been born in the same room in which he died. He was a truck driver and a coal miner.

Patsy’s first wife was Margaret L. Markley. His widow was Erma M. Nuzum Colisino.

 So this is a triple salute: To the Colisino brothers of Monongah, to everyone who served America in its too-many wars and to fathers everywhere, alive or looking down from Above.