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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Man saves elderly woman from fire at Phoenix apartment Debt ends plans for assisted living facility Oregon's wolves first topic of lecture series Restaurant Inspections Don't ruin the bruins Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Man saves elderly woman from fire at Phoenix apartment Emergency services Emergency services Oregon prisoner linked to 1976 killings Drug dealer gets 57 months in fed prison Politics and Elections Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Councilman stirs online dust-up with anti-marijuana post Education Ballroom dance class is a hit with North Medford students Talent Elementary students learn to tinker Local elementary and middle school students qualify for state chess championships Unfair labor complaint against Medford School District resolved Arsonist attempts to burn down building at Jackson Elementary Environment Mt. 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Debt ends plans for assisted living facility ... Our View: Asphalt saga nears end of the road ... Man saves elderly woman from fire at Phoenix apartment ... Debt ends plans for assisted living facility ... Our View: Asphalt saga nears end of the road ... CENTRAL POINT Glassblower was 'passionate about living' Louis Colosimo will be remembered for his art, life, stories Comment By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 22, 2015 @ 5:51 pm Updated Jan 22, 2015 at 5:52 PM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 22, 2015 @ 5:51 pm Updated Jan 22, 2015 at 5:52 PM » Social News CENTRAL POINT — Community members say a local glassblower who died over the holidays will be remembered Saturday as a man who was passionate about his work and loved to pass along his knowledge and stories to others. Louis Anthony Colosimo, 73, founder of the former Red Oak Glass in Central Point's artisan corridor, died Dec. 23. A memorial service is planned at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in the Grants Pass Center for Spiritual Living, 466 S.W. I St., Grants Pass. Colosimo was born on Nov. 22, 1941, and began blowing glass in 1968. He moved to the Rogue Valley in 1999 and opened a storefront on a slowly evolving artisan corridor across from the Rogue Creamery cheese factory in 2003. After creating glass and mentoring local students for nearly a decade, Colosimo announced closure of his shop in early 2012. Colosimo, who was quietly battling cancer and nearing 71 at the time, said he still wanted to pursue part-time glassblowing with fellow artists in Grants Pass and establish a charter alternative school to teach students about art and life. Colosimo's wife of 30 years, Joyce, said her husband's passion for life made it seem Colosimo would beat cancer a second time even though he rejected chemotherapy in favor of quality of life. "The cool thing about Louis was he was always fun to come home to because he was just such an upbeat person who loved life and was passionate about living," said Joyce. "People were drawn to him. When we met I remember feeling like, 'Boy, the party just started when you walked in the door.' It's quite a void when someone like Louis is suddenly gone." Central Point Community Development Director Tom Humphrey said Colosimo was an integral part of creating an artisan draw for the quiet downtown. "Louie was an extraordinary individual, artist and friend," Humphrey said. "He was passionate about his glass-blowing craft, about mentoring young people and about making a difference in the world around him. Some of his artwork graces Central Point City Hall and is a constant reminder to me of his life." Nathan Sheafor, co-owner of the Glass Forge, said Colosimo, who continued blowing glass and mentoring young artists at Sheafor's studio, would be sorely missed. "It's pretty hard. I think we all keep expecting Louis to walk through the door. We met him when he just wandered into our studio one day and said he was getting out of the rat race and was going to build a glass studio in Central Point and maybe we could help him out," Sheafor recalled. Considered an old-timer, having started with his specific type of glasswork at its inception in the 1960s and '70s, Colosimo shared tricks of the trade as eagerly as his love of great stories, Sheafor said. "Everyone who knew Louis was always impressed with how ambitious and how kind he was. We always marveled at his designs and his willingness to teach others. One thing about Louis, we always couldn't wait for him to come the next time because he would tell the greatest stories from his life experiences — and he had so many to tell about." Sheafor said Colosimo and his wife spent his final weeks of life recording his formulas for glassblowing designs and colors so his legacy would continue. "He touched so many lives," Joyce said. "I remember we went to a guy's wedding that Louis had taken him into his shop and showed him how to blow glass. His mom came up at the wedding and said, 'You saved by son's life,' " Joyce remembers. "She was so thankful because he had cared enough to make a difference." In addition to his wife, Colosimo is survived by his daughters, Lisa Farnen and Sara Colosimo, and two granddaughters. Reach Medford freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected] .   By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 22, 2015 @ 5:51 pm Updated Jan 22, 2015 at 5:52 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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