The Blog of Death

Thanks for everything, Nick. You will be missed.

When I was a tiny girl of 4-1/2, I visited Mr. Venetucci's farm for the very first time. I was with my classmates, a group of children from the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind. My first, and uppermost impression, of this kind and gentle man, was of his hands. Those very same hands that lovingly worked the land, were the very same strong but gentle hands that held me up over the fence so that I might touch a pig for the very first time, so that I might see what it looked like.

That was 33 years ago. Through the years, I have remained in touch with Nick and his wife, Bambi, (my very first teacher and known to me as Miss Marc), and when I visited them again in the summer of 1997, after many years of absence, I am not ashamed to admit that the touch of Nick's hand on mine brought tears to my eyes. Nick's hands, to me, embody all that he was--warm, gentle, larger than life. I'll miss you, Mr. Venetucci.

I haven't lived in Fountain Colorado for some 10 years now, but a year never went by that we didn't try to buy some Silver Queen corn from Nick. I was able to grow some sweet corn successfully one year and one year only! Nick on the other hand had an excellent crop most of the time. He indeed had a talent for growing corn in an otherwise short and harsh environment.

He will remain an Icon for the children and good will ambassador to the rest of us. Oh yeah, and one darn good farmer! You will truly be missed, as one misses a legend. God Bless you, Jeff

I have captured a pictorial tribute at the following location;

http://www.springsphotos.com/pumpkin_man.htm

Thank you, Mike. Your pictoral tribute to Mr. Venetucci was lovely.

My now 26 year old daughter is autistic and spent her grade school years in special ed classes. Each year her class would join the trong of children at Nick Venetucci's pumpkin farm where all, including my daughter, picked their special pumpkin. My daughter's always seemed to me to be the small scrawny one that maybe no one else wanted, but I was assured by her teacher that it was the one she picked and she always came home hugging it to her chest like a prized possession. Sometimes they were so small that my wife couldn't get her hand inside to clean it before carving. But together mother and daughter made it work. Then a face, a votive inside and it was her pumpkin. It set outside, lit, well beyond Holloween, until it was so wrinkled it didn't look like a pumpkin anymore. To this day, one of the things Mom, Dad, and Daughter do is shop the boxes and boxes of pumpkins in front of Walmart while she picks the perfect pumpkin. I'm generally worn out afterward because I have to dig with her deep into the boxes so that she doesen't miss seeing every one. Mom and Daughter still bond over a magic marker and a sharp knife and holloween is still, and will always be, special in our house.
Thank you Nick, you live on.

When I moved here in 87 my oldest child's class was going to the pumpkin farm and need parent volunteers to go. Since that year I have gone many many times with two more children of my own and then with the scout troops that I had. To see the joy on the childrens faces as they ran down the many rows to find the perfect pumkin always brought a tear of joy to me. Today someone gave me a article from the Gazzete about the life of Nick. It brought another tear to my eyes. I now have three small grandchildren and know that they will never get to meet Nick The pumpkin man. There will never be another Nick.
I will always remember what you have done for this Town and what you brought to me as a parent. You gave of yourself and taught me to give of myself.
You are greatly missed.
Thank you for being The Great Pumkin Man

My Dearest Great Uncle Nick,
I will never forget the time spent with you and Aunt Bambi at the ranch. You told many a joke and laughed your head off. You cracked me up ! And I will never forget how you gave corn and pumkins away freely. You are a a true example of human generosity. Through you I have learned more about real love for your neighbors. And Aunt Bambi, you are a great woman who stood by his side. Thanks for the book you wrote which I truly enjoyed reading, "Give Me Your Hand". I can't believe you drove that car !!! You go girl !!
All my Love ,

Your Great Niece, Debora
(MaryKay's daughter in Fl.)

I am a Venetucci from Chicago. I first visited the ranch with my parents, Adelaide,(nee:Venetucci) and Ed Janz with my brother Ray in 1967. tony was still living on bon foy in Colo Spgs and he and Florence took us out to the ranch to see nick, bambi and joe. I'll never forget that visit. Nick and Bambi made dinner for us and we spent every day visiting with the family. Nick was the kindest man I had ever met as a child, opening their home to and spending time playing with us and the fields. My last visit to the ranch was in 1997 when my wife and my daughter Sara stopped in and had dinner with Nick and
Bambi. The first thing I saw as I pulled up to the ranch, was Nick in the north field irrigating. At his age this was about the 62 farming season that he and Tony(of late) continued to work the fields. MY daughter Sara
sat on Nicks lap on the tractor and I felt the regeneration of the Venetuccis in this way; new life touching the history of our family. His contributions to life, society and conservation will never be equalled and he and all the brothers, Tony, Joe and Rocco are greatly missed.
To Bambi, stay well and God be with you. The Family of Edward and Raymond (Venetucci)Janz.
Chicago/Schaumburg,Illinois
The related Venetuccis,
Nick,Tony,Joe,Rocco
In chicago: The late:
Amadeo,Justin,Pasquale,Rocco,Yolanda,Adelaide,Theresa.

I am a resident of KC, MO. While watching a TV program, I was intrigued by the story that was describing a very generous person from Colorado Springs who invited schoolchildren to his farm to select free pumpkins.
The individual featured in this program related his life-long experience of being a bachelor, and then marrying a lady that he had dated for 30 years very late in his life.
Having stayed at the Broadmoor Hotel many times, I was intrigued by an anecdote the program related concerning an agreement reached between this gentleman and the famous hotel. According to the program, years ago the Broadmoor was running out of water. The subject of the program had a farm nearby the hotel with an abudance of water. This gentleman and the hotel worked out an agreement whereby a pipeline would be built between this gentleman's farm and the hotel. The pipeline served to protact the hotel from running out of water and possibly saving the Broadmoor from financial collapse.
Being further intrigued, on my next visit to the Broadmoor (in 1998), I asked the concierge about this mystery man. The concierge was very aware of whom I was speaking. He provide me with Mr. Venetucci's name and the location of the famous farm. The same day, I visited the farm with my wife, where we had the pleasure of meeting he and his wife Bambi. We would visit the Venetucci's whenever we made one of our frquent trips to the area.
Earlier today (August 2005) we visited the farm again, and were dismayed to find out Mr. Venetucci had passed away some months earlier.
Though my acquaintence with Dominic was very brief (and being a stranger from the East), I was impressed with how gracious he truly was, and it is my regret that our paths did not cross earlier in my life.
Godspeed Dominic, your friend from KC, MO.
Nick Bono, Sr.

I have been a first grade teacher in the Co. Spgs. area for almost 25 years. I can't remember what year I made my first trip to the Venetucci pumpkin farm with my class of first graders, but I do remember many trips after that. Since there were so many children who wanted to go each year, they had to begin limiting the class field trips to preschool, kindergarten and first graders. For my students it was most likely their last opportunity to visit the great pumpkin patch, but I was able to continue the yearly trip over and over again. One year I returned with so many of those stickers in my hair(I think they were called cockleburrs) from leaning over in the fields to help the students pick their pumpkins. They were so difficult to remove I had to end up cutting them out of my hair. I remember the days when the students would feed the pigs corn from the fields. Somewhere along the way I purchased a tape recorded story with a coloring page called "Mr. Vanatoli and the Magic Pumpkin Seeds" and now my students listen to the story and color the picture even though they haven't had the experience of visiting the farm. I'm so glad all three of my own children had that wonderful experience and regret that my grandchildren will not. Thank you Mr. Venetucci for being there each year when all those school buses of children drove up and saw your smiling face and you waving to them. I had my picture taken with you in 2002 and as I retire from teaching this year my numerous trips to visit your farm will stand out in my memories.

My Dad is Justin Venetucci Jr., New York 1931. We heard about Nick from friends who used to live in Colorado and get Pumpkins.Sorry I never met Him, He must have been a wonderful man! I hope to meet the surviving family! Best Wishes Rose Etta Menger (Venetucci)

I remember just driving down 85-87 and seeing Nick on the tractor, just a workin' away. I remember seeing him going through the fields and wearing that old wide brimmed hat, there was no mistaking him. I met him a couple times.He was always smiling & nice to me and anyone I brought with me.

im not sure but i think nick was my step fathers brother ralph venetucci born in brooklyn.how interesting if he was then he had a nephew johnny and vinny and a neice and 4 other step neices and nephew j

I first met Mr. Venetucci on my first field trip in kindergarter. In high school our outdoor/environment club helped with some farm work when Mr. Venetucci was under the weather. During college I worked in the drug store across from the farm. Mr. Venetucci always donated hay bales and corn stalks for our Halloween picture taking promotion (as he did for Widefield's Homecoming). My manager had to cleverly maneuver around Mr. Venetucci to make sure he never paid for his picture processing. Mr. Venetucci would never dream of not paying and my manager would never dream of taking the man's money. Rarely will we ever meet with a more generous soul again.-Meg

Seeking genealogy information for the Corella/Venetucci Families.

My Great Grandfather Joe Fontana; Grandmother Rose Corella Fontana and Grandmother, Katherine (Katrina) Fontana immigrated to Colorado Springs from Italy either before or after Nicholoas and Marguarite Venetucci arrived. Somehow my Great Grandmother is related to the Venetucci's. I think she and Marguarite were sisters. I am trying to piece together the connection as it very important to me so that I can preserve the information to pass down to my two daughters. My Great Grandfather Joe was a coal miner and he and my Great Grandmother lived in Papeton/Venetian Village their enter lives as well as their 6 adult children. I lived on Arcadia Street with my father and mother until I was five years old. Nick Venetucci and the farm are very much a part of my heritage. I remember going with my father to the farm to get corn and asparagus and to visit with Nick and Joe. Tony wasn't living there any longer. My father always referred to Nick as Uncle. It was a special place for me as I held my dad's hand as Nick would take us around the farm looking for Joe. I remember Joe was very shy. My dad would lift me up to peep through the windows of the garage to look at all the old dusty cars. As I grew older the farm continued as it always did. I married an Air Force Officer and moved away from Colorado Springs for 17 years. I returned to live there again in 1993. Nick Venetucci and the farm became a part of my life again as my daughters were invited along with all the other children to take a field trip from their elementary school to go get a pumpkin from the Pumpkin Man. I made sure I was the mom that volunteered to go so that I could see my daughters experience the Venetucci Farm as a child like I had. I cannot tell you how proud I am to know I am related to this man in some way.

I am now 50 years old and it is my quest to acquire as much information about my Italian heritage as possible to leave for my daughters and their children. Plus, I just need to know! I traveled to Italy many times in my early twenties never knowing where in Italy my family had come from. I plan to travel there again soon. However, this time it will be to find my family.

If you have any information about how these families (Corella, Venetucci, or Fontana) are connected to each other and where in Italy they are from I would very much appreciate you contacting me. I am also trying to find information about my Fontana and Corella roots as well.

My email address is: LJYeager1@aol.com

Grazie!

Linda Yeager-Wheeler

(Great Grand-daughter to Rose Corella Fontana and Joe Fontana; Grand daughter to Katrina Fontana Shepard).

Who is Janet Parker that posted the blog on 10/19/08
What is her E Mail
For I am John J Venetucci with a brother Vinny and a father named Ralph

Hey John,
I don't know who Janet Parker is, for that matter, I don't know who YOU are ! I am one of Nina Venetucci's granddaughters and I am the great niece of Nick, Tony, Joe, Mike and Rocco Venetucci.
I don't know who you are ? Nina was my mother's mom.
If you wanna get in contact with me, you can by going to facebook and typing in Debora Daniel (Sarasota,Fl.) I would love to know how YOU are related to my grandmother.

Who the heck is Ed and Ray Janz ? I have never heard of them.
He fails to mention the other Venetucci kids, Mike and Nina !
And I KNOW he never met Rocco, Nina or Joe. So who the heck are these people claiming to be our relatives? I'd love to know.
I know how Rocco died. Does he? I know how my grandmother died, does he? I know how Joe spent his life, does he?
And how is John J Venetucci related ? My great uncle Tony paid lawyers to have their geneology done. They had NO other relatives in the United States that could be found. Who are they then ?????????