Colin D. Lavalette, 66, of Wallingford, passed away peacefully at his home with his loving family by his side. He was the beloved husband of Cindy (Greider) Lavalette of 32 Years.

The second son of the late Alfred E. and Jeannie (Nutbrown) Lavalette, Colin burst into the world on October 15,1956 crying and screaming, which he continued to do nightly for the first fifteen months of his life.  His mother, father, and Nana cuddled him through this period and through every other distressed tummy period ahead not knowing until his first surgery at eight years old that Colin had a rare digestive disorder, Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome.  One would think the revelation of his disease, the surgery, the knowledge that he would have colonoscopies and endoscopies (and worse) as often as you have your teeth cleaned would have been the most significant event in the life of a boy of eight years.  But it was not. Something else struck him and resounded more powerfully than any disease ever could for the remainder of his life.

In 1965 Colin’s dad took him and his brothers to see The Sound of Music at the Wilkinson Theatre on Center Street.  In Colin’s words, “I fell in love with the movie. I decided right then and there that while no one could have what they had on screen, I knew I could make some parts of that movie in my everyday thoughts and deeds.” He went on to explain…

In The Sound of Music, sure, the Von Trapp family was fleeing from a terrifying regime, but the children had endurance. And positivity. And ingenuity. And love. Colin crafted his life based on these principles.  He endured and fought his way back after multiple major surgeries keeping good humor through it all, grateful that his brilliant doctors were so smart and so willing to take care of him.  Surgery to Colin was not a setback.  It was a solution. New or experimental procedures? To Colin, not scary… ingenious! Nothing stopped Colin Lavalette.  He took a solo trip for six weeks to Europe when he was 18. When the U.S. hockey team won the Olympics in Lake Placid, he was there.  He sailed, he fished, he golfed. He lived. And he loved.  After earning his degrees from Southern Connecticut State University, Colin began teaching at Lyman Hall High School in 1980 where he loved each and every one of his students and colleagues.

Unconditionally.  Always. Colin Lavalette’s classroom, a safe haven for multitudes of kids, produced talented photographers, artists, and teachers. Colin was a gifted photographer, indeed, but his true talent was teaching. He inspired, nurtured, and sparked joy as students created artistic pieces under his encouragement.  As yearbook advisor for 36 years, Colin helped students preserve high school memories for generations. More importantly, he gave them confidence to last their lifetime.

In 1990 Colin began another chapter of love, marrying fellow teacher, Cindy Greider.  His strength as a loving teacher and loving husband was outmatched when Colin became a loving father to Brandon in 1992 and to Sarah in 1994, and a loving grandfather to Charlie and Brooks in 2020 and 2022.  Of all his roles, Dad/Poppy was his starring performance.  All his life Colin quietly created The Sound of Music in his own life.  Now he created magical Sound of Music lives with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Family picnics, holidays; trips to Disney and dude ranches, Point Sebago and Paris; watching movies and American Idol cuddled up on the couch, telling stories with the uncles, kayaking on the Bantam River, cheering from sidelines, playing “high five” and ghost and dominos, eating supper at the kitchen table, and saying prayers together every night…these were a few of his favorite things.         

Colin, indeed, lived the life he imagined for himself at eight years old blinking in the sunlight as he left the theater on Center Street. He is already deeply missed by his immediate and extended family, by his students and colleagues, by the entire community who loved this gentle man.

In addition to his wife Cindy, Colin is survived by his son, Brandon Lavalette and Brandon’s girlfriend, Amanda Barcsansky; his daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Matthew Rubino; his grandchildren, Charlotte Joy Rubino and Brooks Driscoll Rubino; his brothers, Gary Lavalette and his wife Cheryl, Keith Lavalette and his wife Mary Ellen, and David Lavalette and his wife Lynne; many beloved nieces and nephews; and many dear and treasured friends.

His family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., Friday, December 16th, from 3-6pm (The family requests that visitors wear masks). Funeral services and interment will be private for family. Friends are invited to view a livestream of the services Saturday at 9:30am on Colin’s online obituary page at: www.wallingfordfh.com. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to the Colin Lavalette Memorial Scholarship, in care of Joe Corso, Lyman Hall High School, 70 Pond Hill Road, Wallingford, CT 06492.