Obituary for Patricia Colagiuri
Patricia Ann Kopf Colagiuri, 89, of Upper Montclair, NJ passed away on May 10, 2023
from a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Pat was born on October 17, 1933, to Rudolph Christian and Louise Elizabeth Kopf in
Flushing, NY. After graduating from Great Neck High School, she received her B.A. from
Wellesley College in Zoology. She was an owner and director of Kobrand Wines and
Spirits, importers and marketers of fine wines and spirits.
In her youth, Pat attended Camp Wawenock on Lake Sebago in Raymond, ME as both
a camper and a counselor, and while there was the first person at the camp to earn the
Expert Rifleman badge in marksmanship.
She worked at Sloan-Kettering as a research assistant, working with the team of
scientists that discovered that cigarette smoking was a cause of lung cancer.
In 1960, Pat moved with her husband to Upper Montclair. She became a member of the
Episcopal Church of St. James in Upper Montclair and was very involved, serving in the
ECW, a past Altar Guild Member and chair, Pledge Secretary, Lay Reader, Chalice
Bearer and Eucharistic Minister, and served as a member of the Vestry. In 2012, Pat
was awarded the David C. Hegg Lifetime Achievement Award for her many years of
service to the church.
She also served in many other capacities in her lifetime. Wellesley College benefitted
from her many years as an active member and past president of the New Jersey
Wellesley Club, her work as a member for their National Development Council, and
Durant Society Chairman. She was very happy to donate a set of three modern stained-
glass windows for the Houghton Chapel on campus.
For over 50 years, Pat was a member of the Women’s Club of Upper Montclair, serving
as a trustee and past officer. She was a member of The Daughters of the American
Revolution and was a member of their Board of Management. She served on the Board
of Trustees and was a past treasurer of the Community Nursing Service. Pat was also a
member of the Montclair Republican Club, the Montclair Women’s Republican Club, and
served as a Montclair Republican County Committeewoman as well as the Town
Republican Vice Chairman from 1982-1984. She was a member and former director of
The Friends of Barnet. The youth in town also benefitted from her work with the Brownie
and Girl Scouts, as a Cub Scout Den Mother, a PTA Board Member, and as a class
parent and volunteer for four township schools and Montclair Kimberley Academy.
Pat was predeceased by her husband, Patrick M. Colagiuri MD, her parents, and her
sister, Sue Kopf Mueller. She is survived by her children, Jennifer Lynn Eccles and her
husband Thomas, Deborah C. Anderson and her husband Vincent, Elizabeth Paula
McClung and her husband David, and Matthew Christian Colagiuri; her grandchildren,
Katherine Laurene Anderson, Carolyn Marie Anderson, Rebecca Elaine Anderson,
Alexandra Elizabeth Eccles, James Patrick McClung, Ryan Joseph McClung, and
Connor Christian McClung; and her sister, Brenda Kopf Helies.
A wake will be held on Saturday, May 13 th from 11 to 1 and 3 to 6 at the Caggiano
Memorial Home at 62 Grove Street, Montclair, NJ. A memorial service at the Episcopal
Church of St. James will be scheduled at a future date.
from a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Pat was born on October 17, 1933, to Rudolph Christian and Louise Elizabeth Kopf in
Flushing, NY. After graduating from Great Neck High School, she received her B.A. from
Wellesley College in Zoology. She was an owner and director of Kobrand Wines and
Spirits, importers and marketers of fine wines and spirits.
In her youth, Pat attended Camp Wawenock on Lake Sebago in Raymond, ME as both
a camper and a counselor, and while there was the first person at the camp to earn the
Expert Rifleman badge in marksmanship.
She worked at Sloan-Kettering as a research assistant, working with the team of
scientists that discovered that cigarette smoking was a cause of lung cancer.
In 1960, Pat moved with her husband to Upper Montclair. She became a member of the
Episcopal Church of St. James in Upper Montclair and was very involved, serving in the
ECW, a past Altar Guild Member and chair, Pledge Secretary, Lay Reader, Chalice
Bearer and Eucharistic Minister, and served as a member of the Vestry. In 2012, Pat
was awarded the David C. Hegg Lifetime Achievement Award for her many years of
service to the church.
She also served in many other capacities in her lifetime. Wellesley College benefitted
from her many years as an active member and past president of the New Jersey
Wellesley Club, her work as a member for their National Development Council, and
Durant Society Chairman. She was very happy to donate a set of three modern stained-
glass windows for the Houghton Chapel on campus.
For over 50 years, Pat was a member of the Women’s Club of Upper Montclair, serving
as a trustee and past officer. She was a member of The Daughters of the American
Revolution and was a member of their Board of Management. She served on the Board
of Trustees and was a past treasurer of the Community Nursing Service. Pat was also a
member of the Montclair Republican Club, the Montclair Women’s Republican Club, and
served as a Montclair Republican County Committeewoman as well as the Town
Republican Vice Chairman from 1982-1984. She was a member and former director of
The Friends of Barnet. The youth in town also benefitted from her work with the Brownie
and Girl Scouts, as a Cub Scout Den Mother, a PTA Board Member, and as a class
parent and volunteer for four township schools and Montclair Kimberley Academy.
Pat was predeceased by her husband, Patrick M. Colagiuri MD, her parents, and her
sister, Sue Kopf Mueller. She is survived by her children, Jennifer Lynn Eccles and her
husband Thomas, Deborah C. Anderson and her husband Vincent, Elizabeth Paula
McClung and her husband David, and Matthew Christian Colagiuri; her grandchildren,
Katherine Laurene Anderson, Carolyn Marie Anderson, Rebecca Elaine Anderson,
Alexandra Elizabeth Eccles, James Patrick McClung, Ryan Joseph McClung, and
Connor Christian McClung; and her sister, Brenda Kopf Helies.
A wake will be held on Saturday, May 13 th from 11 to 1 and 3 to 6 at the Caggiano
Memorial Home at 62 Grove Street, Montclair, NJ. A memorial service at the Episcopal
Church of St. James will be scheduled at a future date.