Louis D. "Cleats" Colavito, 85, of Middletown, beloved husband of Rosemarie (Marino) Colavito for sixty years, passed away on Friday, April 1, 2016 at the Middlesex Hospital Hospice Unit, with his loving family at his side. Born in Middletown, he was the son of the late Salvatore and Josephine (Mastergeorge) Colavito. Cleats was a life-long resident of Middletown spending the past 52 years in the beautiful home he built on Westfield Street. Cleats attended Middletown High School participating in football and track. He also played semi-pro football for the Sons of Italy Blue Jackets, semi-pro basketball for St. Sebastian Church and the Garibaldi Society, and participated in track and field competitions while stationed at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Cleats proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. A carpenter by trade, Cleats was a member of Carpenters Local 24 from 1955 to 1998, Carpenters Local 24 Apprenticeship Program as an instructor from 1988 to 1998, and as a building inspector for the City of Middletown from 1998 until his retirement in 2007. Cleats was a member of St. Sebastian Church, participating in the feast for over 50 years, serving on the Pastor's Advisory Council and singing in the choir. He was a member of the Carpenters Local 24 Retirees Club, the Italian – American Civic Order, and the Middlesex Hospital Vocal Chords. He received the Connecticut VICA Outstanding Service Award in 1995 and was inducted into the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. Cleats was an avid fan of Xavier football and the New York Yankees. In his spare time, Cleats enjoyed working on small projects and listening to his favorite singer Frank Sinatra. In addition to his wife, Cleats is survived by his daughter, Donna Jaskot, and her husband Tony, his son, Scott, and his wife Sue, his son, Chris, and his wife Karen, his grandchildren Dan Jaskot and Kelly Ryan, Greg Jaskot, Matt Jaskot and Tracy McLaughlin, Amanda Colavito, Adam and Jonathan Colavito, and his great-granddaughter, Ainsley Hope Jaskot. He is also survived by his brother Anthony (Sylvia) Colavito, brother-in-law, John (Jane) Marino, sister in laws, Mary Marino and Mary Colavito and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers, Patrick and Salvatore Colavito, his sister, Marie Sergi and his great grandson, Brayden McLaughlin Jaskot.

Cleats' family gives special thanks to the staff of Middlesex Hospital's Hospice unit and the staff of Visiting Angels of Middlefield for their care and compassion.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Sebastian Church, 155 Washington Street, Middletown. Burial with Military Honors will follow at St. Sebastian Cemetery. Family and friends may call the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Sebastian Church and the Middlesex Hospital Hospice and Palliative Care Unit, 28 Crescent Street, Middletown. D'Angelo Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit www.dangelofuneralhome.com .