RICHMOND, VT — Peter Daniel Colompos, 87 years young, passed away July 18, 2026, at home, "with his boots on."

Born at home June 21, 1939, on North Street in Burlington, VT, Pete was the son of Greek immigrant, Peter Colompos, and Laura Marguerite Watson Colompos. His education, in addition to the Burlington schools, was "hands-on" helping his folks run Pete's Ice Cream and manage their rental properties in the North End.

In his youth, the YMCA was Pete's hangout, and as a young adult he was a life guard at North Beach. He performed in diving exhibitions and a comedic diving shows in Burlington's Waterama. A competitive drag racer during his earlier years, at one point Pete lead in points in his 1957 Chrysler New Yorker with a 392 Hemi for the F/Stock automatic class at Milton Speedway.

Pete served in the U.S. Navy 1957-60 on the USS Boxer, working in communications where he attended Class "A" Radioman School and even received a good conduct medal.

He married the love of his life, Sherry Anne Fleece, on June 22, 1963, at St. Joseph Church in Burlington. They had two children, Kim and Peter.

Pete was employed for 30 years by IBM in Essex Junction, VT, and Manassas, VA. He held many positions at the company, and traveled to Raleigh, NC, Rochester, NY, and Austin, TX, for development of equipment for future pilot lines. His positions ranged from operator, senior operator specialist, department technician, senior department technician, senior associate engineer in photolithography equipment engineering, and senior lab specialist – personalization process. The remainder of his IBM work experience was managerial in manufacturing and laboratory, as well as engineering pilot lines and manufacturing pilot lines. Four years of his IBM work experience were spent in Manassas as the site was built and developed. He spent one year dismantling and reassembling the semiconductor pilot line from Virginia to Essex Junction.

He received the American Automobile Association Award in recognition of "meritorious service rendered in protecting the lives of school children while serving as a member of the School Safety Patrol." Pete was recognized for outstanding services offered to Hinesburg Elementary School children through the IBM tutor program, "What a fine role model…Pete certainly exemplifies the very best it could hope to provide in community service. We rate an A+!"

Pete hiked the local trails, enjoyed bow and rifle deer hunting in Vermont, Pennsylvania and Maine; drag racing with Peter and Al; and automotive restoration and repair. Over his lifetime, on over 100 of his own vehicles, he mastered engine rebuilding, transmission repair and related machine work, as well as complete restoration of vintage automobiles from the bottom up. Pete looked forward to working on projects with his neighbor, JP, and family dinners on Sunday. He set the standard for taking care of his home and vehicles, and to his grandchildren's delight, even alphabetized his canned vegetables!

He is survived by his daughter, Kim and her husband Al Dennis of Huntington, VT, and his son Peter Colompos and his wife Becky, of Richmond, VT; his grandchildren: Lindsey and her husband Nick Dente of Belchertown, MA; and Riley Colompos of Richmond, VT; as well as his two great-grandsons, Leon and Dean Dente; his cousin, Spiro Halikas of Lincoln, CA; brothers-in-law, Jim Fleece and Bill Fagga; sisters-in-law, Betty Hayes, Paula St. Amour, and Judy LaCross; and numerous nieces and nephews from the Green, Fagga and Fleece families.

He is predeceased by his wife, Sherry Ann Fleece Colompos, and his sisters Maggie Green and Virginia Fagga; brothers-in-law Tim Fleece, Joe Fleece, Bob Green, Joe Fuller, and Tom Dacres; sisters-in-law Caroline Fuller, Didi Dacres and Dale Cobb; nephew Mike Green and great niece Julie Green.

Visiting hours will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at Gifford Funeral Home, 22 Depot Street, Richmond.

Burial will be held at noon on Friday, July 24 at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Richmond.