Obituary of Joel R. Colinco

JOEL RAMIREZ COLINCO, 88, of Summerville, SC, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather entered eternal life peacefully on Friday, May 12, 2017, at PruittHealth in Moncks Corner, SC. His legacy is carried on by his wife, 7 children, 11 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, a surviving brother, and an extended family from every walk of life. Dr. Colinco was born on November 24, 1928 in Ilog, Negros Occidental, Philippines, and earned his High School diploma from Ilog Private Academy. He attended Silliman University (Dumaguete, Philippines) where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Biology degrees in 1952. He was awarded the Doctor of Medicine degree by Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines in 1966, and was a baritone choir member of the Grace Bible Church Manila. Dr. Colinco completed his medical residency and fellowship with Silliman University Mission Hospital where he enjoyed mural painting, lawn and table tennis, and singing in the SU Church Choir. He was a pediatrician with private practice while serving as a university physician in Bacolod, Philippines, where he raised his family and was an active member of The Philippine Medical Association and The Gideons International. Committed to his Lord and his Bible, Dr. Colinco was a deacon and choir director at Maranatha Baptist Church in Bacolod from 1968 to 1983. He and his family immigrated to West Caldwell, New Jersey in 1989 where he first enjoyed saltwater fishing on the Atlantic coast. He and his wife retired and relocated to Summerville, SC in 2004. Dr. Joel Colinco was the 2009 Senior Poet Laureate of South Carolina for his poem, “Caskets in Psychedelic Colors.” A keen wordsmith, Dr. Colinco crafted numerous published poems and enjoyed the challenge of completing the New York Times Crossword Puzzles. He was an ardent historian, an avid reader and an enthusiastic gardener who was passionate about healthy living and the simple things in life. He was a steadfast L.A. Dodgers and N.Y. Yankees fan; he was a lover of high culture and art, classical and sacred music, and timeless Christian hymns. A champion of the suffering and the destitute, Dr. Colinco was a generous and compassionate physician in his community in the Philippines. He was a loving and dedicated father who instilled into his eight children the invaluable gifts of persistence, strong discipline and good education, the satisfaction of pursuing excellence and attaining new heights, and the eternal rewards of serving God and His kingdom. He was a man of immovable faith and complete devotion to his Savior, believing in the miraculous power and matchless grace of Christ’s redeeming love, and the magnificent wonders and perfect peace that await him on the other shore. Dr. Colinco is survived by his wife of 54 years, Fe Tio Colinco; children Jewel Pag-ong (husband Jay, daughter Candy, granddaughters Krystal and Haylee); Winston (wife Mylene, children Jedi Lee, Kaylyn and Alexa); Noela Sharo (husband Christopher, children Chriselle, Joshua and Caleb); Luke; Joel Jr. (wife Gemini); Stephen (wife Tiffany, children Everly and Elijah); David (wife Cristina, children Gabriella and Micahellie); brother Elfren (wife Leticia); and in-laws, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Dr. Colinco is predeceased by and reunited with his daughter, Diane Tio Colinco, his parents, four siblings and parents-in-law. Viewing will be held at the chapel of Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation and Burial Services, located at 7475 Peppermill Pkwy, North Charleston SC 29418 on Saturday, May 20, 2017, between 12:00-1:30 pm. A memorial service will follow at the same location from 1:30-3:00 p.m. Graveyard service and interment will be celebrated at Plantation Memorial Gardens, 3346 S. Live Oak Dr, Moncks Corner SC 29461, from 4-4:30 p.m. A fellowship dinner will be held at Faith Assembly of God, 337 Farmington Rd, Summerville SC 29483 starting at 5:00 p.m. In Dr. Colinco’s memory, donations may be given to the family to be used towards the Dr. Joel and Diane Colinco Medical Memorial Fund to help jumpstart a medical clinic project in the Philippines. His family would like to thank the entire staff of PruittHealth Hospice in Moncks Corner SC, who took excellent care of him during the last year of his life. The same gratitude goes out to everyone who supported his family with love and prayers at this very trying time.