PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY — The local community is mourning the loss of Joseph “Joe” Colodne, a dedicated coach and beloved mentor at Kean University and Parma High School, who recently passed away. Known for his unwavering support of young athletes, his death has left students, colleagues, and community members deeply affected.
Colodne was instrumental in bridging high school and collegiate sports, working closely with Parma High School players during annual College I.D. and High School Prep Camps at Kean University. His role in these camps not only guided student-athletes toward scholarship opportunities but also helped shape their characters off the field.
Social media has been flooded with heartfelt tributes. One Parma High School coach expressed gratitude on Facebook:
“Thank you, Coach Joe Colodne, Kean University, for working with our Parma HS players today at our annual College I.D. & HS Prep Camp.”
Friends, former athletes, and students have shared how Colodne’s encouragement made a lasting impact: “He believed in me when nobody else did,” wrote one former camper. Another added, “Joe didn’t just train us—he coached our lives.”
Cologne was admired not only for his strategic insights and teaching, but also for his empathetic leadership. He celebrated every athlete’s success and helped them through setbacks, earning him deep respect and affection from all who knew him.
His passing has created a void in both the high school and university sports communities, which benefited greatly from his time, talent, and generosity of spirit. Plans for a memorial gathering are being organized by Kean University and Parma High School, where players, families, and colleagues will come together to celebrate Joe’s life and legacy.
Joseph Colodne’s dedication to youth development and his uplifting presence in sports will be fondly remembered. Though he is no longer with us, his influence will continue through the many athletes he inspired and the community he helped build.