Martin F. Coladonato

Martin Francis Coladonato passed away in his sleep on February 27th, 2021 at age 61.

Marty now truly rests in peace after a long and exhaustive battle with numerous deteriorating health conditions.

Marty was born March 23, 1959, in Anaheim, CA to Frank and Mary Coladonato and was the only son and youngest of three to his older sisters, Patricia and Mary Ann.

In his youth, Marty had a rebellious, wanderer’s heart and an adventurous, free spirit. He enjoyed camping and going on road trips with his friends and his cousin, Jay. While a bit aimless after graduating high school, it was this love of traveling and seeing new places that led to his enlistment in the Navy. Little did he know how quickly his life would change when he met Emelie, a young,  fiery Filipino woman, while on WESTPAC in the Philippines.

Marty and Emelie’s love story started as a broken, crisscrossing road. Although they started as friends, they soon fell deeply in love. Soon, their first daughter, Camille Aja Coladonato, was born. A year after, they had a simple ceremony and married in a small chapel. Almost 3 years later, their beautiful, second daughter, Isabella Luciana Coladonato was born.

Marty continued to serve in the Navy, and while he remained rebellious and free in his own ways, his heart was always fully in one place, with his wife and two daughters. Marty held many titles in his life, including that of Chief Quartermaster (SMC), but his most important and honored titles were those he held with his family such as “Honey” and “Daddy”. His unfailing love faithfully crossed oceans while away at sea and were often sent in crayon drawing depictions and heartfelt words to his young daughters and wife.

When home, Marty filled their lives with music, laughter, pancakes, the ice cream truck, visits to the arcade, and Disney movies. Marty shared his love of travel with his family on summer vacations traveling up and down California in a rented RV. After his retirement, he and Emelie had dreamed and talked of one day owning an old RV and wandering the US for their remaining years together.

After his 23 years of service, Marty retired from the Navy, but continued to work, trying new careers, eventually finding the right fit working with his cousin Jay at Freemen.

Marty’s heart and love for his family was so great, that when his daughters had grown, moved out, and eventually married their own soul mates, it took adopting eight cats to fill the void. Marty was still the ever-doting father to his fur babies.

Marty lives on in the hearts, spirits, and cherished memories of his wife and soulmate of 36 years, Emelie; his devoted daughters, Aja and Luci, and their husbands, Paul and Jared; his parents, Frank and Mary; his sisters, Patti and Mary Ann; and his many in-law siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and colleagues who had the opportunity to know and love this larger than life man.

If you would like to support the Coladonato family, here is a link to the Martin Coladonato Funeral and Family Support Fund: https://gofund.me/1a391df6

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