Chris Montesano was a core member of Colorado Springs Faith and Light Group  for over 15 years.
Chris shared a home with his brother Frank that borders Pike National Forest. He walked a mile roundtrip to the mailbox every day to help stay fit. When Chris was not feeding the birds, recycling aluminum, making puzzles, gardening, fishing, shoveling snow in the winter time,  making rosary beads for the missions or meeting with his F&L group he did volunteer work.

 

There was a time when Chris Montesano participated in the very first Special Olympics attended by Kennedy Family members and hosted by the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation. 

 

He was on the team from St. Coletta's School in Hanover, Massachusetts and won first-place medals for running.  It was at a time when Cardinal Cushing of Boston traveled with Sister Shawn, Director of the school, and several of the children to Lourdes in France.  After Cardinal Cushing died, the funeral procession went to the school and the Cardinal was buried. He had been a true friend of those with mental retardation.  Chris attended the services that day.  The school was then renamed Cardinal Cushing School. 

 

Chris continued to participate and run in those early Special Olympics as long as he resided at the school.  He was always proud of those Special Olympics and of the medals he received.