Francis “Hank” X. Colbert, 95, passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 14, 2019. He was born in Somerville, Mass., and lived in Madison, N.J., for the past 48 years. He was a retired airline captain for Pan Am, and Navy commander in WWII. He graduated from Boston College in 1950 with a degree in Industrial Management. He worked for Pan American Airlines as an airline pilot captain for 32 years until his retirement in 1983.
He proudly served his country during World War II as a commander in the US Navy. He volunteered at the Mother Teresa Soup Kitchen, Newark, for 20 years, was a member of St. Vincent Martyr Parish and Opus Dei.
Hank is survived by his devoted wife, Jean T. Colbert, and his loving children, Michael Colbert and his wife, Heather, Bridgewater, N.J., and Kathleen Colbert, Madison, and his cherished grandchildren, Maddie, Shea and Casey. He is also survived by his sisters, Mary, Jane and Helen, and many nieces and nephews.
Hank was predeceased by his sister, Marjorie, and his brothers, Tom, Walter, Bob, Jack, Arthur, Dick, Paul and James.
Family and friends are welcome to gather on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, 106 Main St., Madison, N.J. 07940. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent Martyr Church, Madison. Interment will follow at St. Vincent Cemetery, Noe Ave & Shunpike Road, Madison.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made in Hank’s memory to the Missionaries of Charity, 168 Sussex Ave., Newark, N.J. 07103.
Published in Star-Ledger on Feb. 16, 2019