SMETHPORT (EC) – Jim Colosimo of Bradford delivered the mail for
the last time Saturday, rounding out a career of 43 years with the
U.S. Postal Service.

A very surprised Colosimo was greeted by friends and co-workers
Saturday morning when he arrived at the Rixford Post Office, a
usual stop on his route,ðwhereðan open house was held in his
honor.ð

At that time, Rixford Postmaster Rick Price presented Colosimo
with a plaque in recognition of his more than four decades of
getting the mail through, despite the weather.ðThe engraving on the
award reads: “James V. Colosimo, 43 years of unwavering service to
the people of Rixford-March 24, 1967 through March 31, 2007.”

A highway contract carrier with the USPS since March 24, 1964,
Colosimo took over the same route his father had for 20
years.ðColosimoðbegan his work day at 5:30 a.m. when he picked up
the mail at the Bradford Post Office and distributed it to post
offices in Derrick City, Duke Center, Rixford, Eldred and
Shinglehouse.ðThen, at 3:30 p.m., he reversed this route,
collecting the mail from the same five stations and delivering it
to Bradford.

A measure of his dedication to the job is shown in that he had
taken off two weeks in 43 years. Until nine months ago, Colosimo
worked seven days a week.

“Over those years, I drove 2.1 million miles and was never more
than 30 miles from Bradford.”

Colosimo credits the people he worked with as one of the reasons
he stayed on the job so long.ð “Those beautiful people kept me
going,” he noted.

Now that he is retired, Colosimo said he and his wife plan to
visit their daughters, Jill Tupper in Virginia, and Jamie Youd in
Florida. Colosimo also enjoys gardening and fishing.

Jim Ryan of Derrick City takes over Colosimo’s route.