Obituary of John D. Cologna

Resident of Trumbull John Dennis Cologna, age 78, of Trumbull, beloved husband of the late Betty Jane Baker Cologna, died suddenly on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. A native of Chicago, IL, he was the son of the late Dennis and Sophie Hoelbrandt Cologna. He was a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in marketing, where he and his wife Betty, established a scholarship fund. John was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus and Grand Knight of the St. Theresa Council. Retired after 42 years with the General Electric Co., he held various executive positions there in Chicago, Louisville, KY and Fairfield, CT, where he was manager of Development and Planning. After retirement he founded his own consulting company, Supply Management Solutions (S.M.S.) Associates, Inc. providing consulting and supply management training to numerous companies in the U. S., Western and Eastern Europe, Japan and China. In 1996-1997, he served as President of the 26,000 member National Association of Purchasing Management (now ISM) in Tempe, Arizona. A member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians for over 30 years, he performed as an amateur for hospitals, schools, orphanages and other charities. He was awarded the Order of Merlin and was nominated for the President Gerald Phillippe award at GE for these charitable activities. Survivors include eight loving children, Ann Sullivan of Meriden, Barbara G. Pietruk and her husband Walter of FL, Danial Cologna and his wife Robyn of Newtown, Kathleen Day and her husband Chris of Fairfield, Andrea Amalfitano and her husband Michael of TX, Linda Cavaliere of Newtown, Karen Echeverria and her husband Tim of Newtown and John T. Cologna of Milford, 22 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by two brothers, Dan and Don Cologna and a sister, Elinor White. Funeral Information Funeral services will take place on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull, and at 9:00 a.m. in St. Theresa Church, Trumbull for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will take place in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Friends may call on Friday from 4-8 p.m. Donations Information In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 2080 Silas Deane Highway, 2nd floor, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.