Deacon Michael Ciletti dies July 21 at age 81

COLORADO SPRINGS. Deacon Michael Ciletti, a retired deacon of the Diocese of Colorado Springs, died July 21 at age 81 after a battle with cancer.

A rosary will be held Aug. 18 at 3:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Parish in Colorado Springs. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Bishop James Golka and Bishop Emeritus Richard Hanifen at 4 p.m., with a reception to follow. Interment will take place in a private ceremony at Mount St. Francis Columbarium.

Deacon Ciletti was a “triple domer” who earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Notre Dame.

He first came to Colorado Springs in 1968 to serve his ROTC commission doing research at the U.S. Air Force Academy. After living briefly in California, he returned to Colorado in 1974, where he began his teaching career at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs as a professor of electrical engineering and computer science. He wrote several textbooks used in universities worldwide.

He was ordained to the permanent diaconate on June 4, 1994 and had served at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Colorado Springs.

He was an avid photographer, loved the mountains, climbed over 25 fourteeners, and walked the Camino de Santiago.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jerilynn; and five children: Monica (Michael) McCormick, Lucy (Peter) Van Dusen, Rebecca (Shanti Taylor) Ciletti, Christine (David) Steigerwald, and Michael (Michelle) Ciletti.

His surviving grandchildren, known as the “Cousin Dozen,” include: Michael (Nicole Harder), Kate (Luke Kirrane), Brigid, and David (Breanna) McCormick; Matthew and Ella Van Dusen; Jackson, Samantha, and Peter Steigerwald; Anthony, Abigail, and Joseph Ciletti.

He is also survived by his brother, James (Mary) Ciletti; and sister, Barbara (Rick) Schreiber; sister-in-law, Lolita Ciletti; and several nieces and nephews.