John Colombo Sr., a familiar face to fans in the Tuscarawas Valley, will no longer be a fixture at area sporting events.
He died unexpectedly Monday at his home in Strasburg, but as recently as Friday night, Colombo watched the action in the Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School gym in New Philadelphia. He was a fixture in the same spot nearly beneath the scoreboard in the northwest corner of the gym, where he stood vigil since the 1974-1975 school year, when he enrolled his son “Johnny” Colombo as a freshman.
Johnny’s senior year of 1978-1979, is fondly remembered by current Saints girls basketball head coach Greg Triplett, a 1988 Central graduate. His brother Jeff Triplett was a senior on that team, which was state-ranked.
Before Tuesday night’s boys varsity basketball home game, Coach Triplett asked for attendees to “Please join us in a moment of silence remembering our beloved Saint, John Colombo.”
“Mr. Colombo not only loved basketball, but he really formed relationships with the student-athletes and coaches over the years,” Greg Triplett said afterward. “Just last week, he was talking to me about the boys and girls who he really liked watching. I had to tell the girls tonight at practice. They were stunned. There were a lot of tears. He was a rock and an institution for our school for 45 years.”
Craig and Chris Colombo also graduated from Central, and all three of the Colombos played basketball there.
Colombo also is believed to have watched more games than anyone else in the Tuscarawas Valley, Triplett said.
“He not only went to Central home games, but I’d see him when I was scouting opponents -- he was everywhere,” the coach said. “He’s had to have watched thousands of games -- not only varsity, but junior varsity, freshmen, 8th grade, and 7th grade. “And, it was for boys and girls games.
“We’ve had a lot of people go to home and away games over the years, but that was usually for either the boys or girls varsity. Mr. Colombo was everywhere. He was sort of an ambassador for our school, everybody knew him. When you consider a Mount Rushmore of Tuscarawas Central Catholic supporters -- he’s on it.”
The Link LonkJanuary 13, 2021 at 11:09AM
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Longtime area athletic booster John Colombo Sr. passes away - New Philadelphia Times Reporter
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