Obituary of John "Jack" Colaneri

With profound sadness, the family of John "Jack" Colaneri shares that he passed away peacefully on December 11, 2024, after a brief illness. Born on November 1, 1930, Jack was the beloved only child of Humberto and Rose (Willis) Colaneri. A native of Troy, New York, Jack made his mark as a celebrated jockey and a respected small business owner.  Jack was predeceased by his parents, Humberto and Rose, and his son-in-law, Roger Hogle. He is survived by his wife and best friend of 72 years, Mary (Coleman) Colaneri. He will be dearly missed by his five children: John (Jean), Michael (Jackie), Mary Rose (Bob) Dickinson, Ann Marie (late Roger) Hogle, and Timothy (Natasha). Jack also leaves behind several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and his sister-in-law, Mary Coleman.

At the age of 15, Jack traveled to Virginia to pursue his passion for horse racing. He won his first race on July 4, 1950, at the Aqueduct on “Theo.” That summer, Jack became a fan favorite at Saratoga Race Course, earning recognition for his local ties. At Saratoga, he achieved remarkable success, winning 30 races during the 28-day meet and riding both ends of the Daily Double five times. He toured the racing circuit, competing at several famous racetracks throughout the nation. At the height of his career, he was ranked the number one jockey in the United States.

In 1954, Jack retired from horse racing to dedicate himself fully to his loving wife and growing family. He worked alongside his father at Colaneri’s Grocery and Ice Cream Parlor in Lansingburgh, where he became renowned for his world-famous potato salad. Colaneri’s was a true family business and he cherished working with all of his children where they developed a strong work ethic and sense of family. After retiring in 1984, Jack and his wife, Mary, moved to Florida, but continued to spend summers with their children and grandchildren. In 2015, they returned permanently to upstate New York to be closer to family.

Jack was an avid fisherman and cherished his fishing adventures with his wife, children and sons-in-law. A lifelong resident of Lansingburgh, Jack was a devoted parishioner of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church. He also enjoyed cheering on his favorite sports teams, western films, donuts from Bella Napoli, and spending time with his beloved family. He often referred to each of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as his “favorite.”

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

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