Community mourns the loss of JDCHS student Adam Colosimo

Intermountain Catholic

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Father David Van Massenhove blesses Adam Colosimo's casket at the grave site. ?He left us way too young and too early,? said his uncle John Colosimo. IC photo/Christine Young

DRAPER — More than a thousand family members and friends gathered to say good-bye to Adam Christopher Colosimo at his funeral Mass at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church July 14. Colosimo was remembered as a loving son, brother, and cousin, and an athlete and scholar.

Colosimo had just completed his sophomore year at Juan Diego Catholic High School. This is the first time in the school’s 13-year history that it has experienced a death of a currently enrolled student.

The Colosimo family was instrumental in the school’s development. Dr. Galey Colosimo, principal of the school, is Adam’s uncle, and was the project manager when the campus was built in 1999. John Colosimo, another of Adam’s uncles, is vice principal and football coach.

Adam Colosimo was born April 10, 1996 to Larry and Jean Colosimo. He died after suffering a heart embolism July 10, 10 days after he was electrocuted while climbing down a ladder from a building.

The funeral Mass was concelebrated by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, several priests from the diocese who have been associated with the high school or the family over the years, and Father David Van Massenhove, pastor of Saint Thomas More Parish, where Adam Colosimo’s family attend Mass.

Adam Colosimo took his faith seriously, Fr. Van Massenhove said. "While other kids will smile when they come to communion, Adam never would; he was all business."

Adam Colosimo’s family and his faith were most important to him, said Galey Colosimo. "When the family would travel, Adam would ask where they were going to go to church on Sunday," he said. "He was also comfortable in his 16-year-old skin kissing his little sister good night every night and tucking his parents into bed with precious love."

He played practical jokes on his family and friends, and was one of the brightest students at Juan Diego. "Except for one A-, he was a perfect straight-A student," said Galey Colosimo.

To Adam’s parents, Galey Colosimo said, "We are all so proud of the way you raised him and your courage and support of him during his darkest days is an inspiration to us all."

Giana Colosimo kept a family blog of her brother’s condition during his 10-day stay in intensive care before his death. During the funeral she read a letter she wrote to Adam, in which she said he was the best brother anyone could have and that he was her hero. Even though she was not pleased that he would annoy her every day after school, she would give anything to have him annoy her again, she said.

Adam’s classmate, Dominic Colosimo, honored his cousin by reading the Athlete’s Prayer during the funeral. "We grew up like brothers playing sports together, and Adam always worked hard," he said. "We would see each other every day at school and on the weekends hanging out or at family functions. He was a loving and caring person and he really took pride in his school work."

Adam was like a brother to Dakota Cox, said the Juan Diego football team captain. "We started playing ball together as freshmen. He was the kindest person I’ve ever met. He had a tremendous heart on and off the field and set a great example for everyone. Everyone wanted to be like Adam and everyone loved him. He was always working hard to better the team."

The team has struggled practicing without Adam, said Cox, adding that he has never seen them work so hard. "We are thinking of Adam and how much he would want to be with us," Cox said. "We’re going to dedicate the season to him."

"Adam made everything he touched proud on the athletic field and courts and in the classrooms," said Chris Long, Juan Diego athletic director. "I can’t imagine a better example of what a Juan Diego athlete should be."