There are things that simply belong together, pairings and combinations that create something magic.

That has been the case with the Cranston Public Schools music program and Mark Colozzi, who is moving on to become director of liturgical music at Providence College after decades spent molding thousands of the city’s young musicians.

“It has been an emotional ride. I am coming to terms with leaving. This was not a teaching job, it was my life,” he said. “I wasn’t planning on leaving, but it is the reality of it all. In some ways, it is time … I truly cannot put into words what this has meant to me. I am beyond blessed to have established strong relationships with so many people. They all know I am only a text away.”

Colozzi – known to many as “Mr. C” – began his relationship with Cranston music 30 years ago when he was 27 years old. He came to the district on Sept. 23, 1986, and was promoted to music program supervisor on July 1, 2003.

Working side by side with Colozzi, has been his fellow music instructor and close friend, Greg Arsenault.

“Mark’s retirement is a very big deal for me. He is my co-director, my mentor, and my best friend,” Arsenault said. “He is simply the best music director I have ever had the privilege to work with. His musical and directorial skills are superb. I have learned so much from him by observing him work with students and also by discussing the various issues that we deal with on a day-to-day basis. He led the district’s music staff through very difficult times over the past seven to eight years, and we are on the way greater music education opportunities for Cranston students because of his leadership and guidance. He will be greatly missed. Mark can never be replaced, and I can only hope to partially fill the void that he will be leaving here at Cranston East.”

Jean Ruggieri has worked closely with Colozzi over the past 12 years as a parent coordinator.

“I’ve known him for about 12 years when my son first joined band. We clicked immediately,” she said. “My son got sick in his sophomore year and Mark and the band program is what kept him in school. I truly believe he would have dropped out without Mark’s love and support. He has always been there for our family, from my son getting sick to my husband’s freak accident. He went from being my child’s teacher, to a friend, to an important part of our family. He is like a brother to me. My daughter helps teach color guard since she graduated from the program. He puts his heart and soul into this program and treats these kids as if they were his own. He will truly be missed. He has touched so many lives in the years that he has been teaching.”

The Ruggieri children shared special feelings for Colozzi.

“He was more than a teacher and I have nothing but love for him. He is what got me through my high school years,” David said.

Melissa Ruggieri, who graduated in 2010, has strong connections to Colozzi as well.

“As a student in the program and now as a staff member, I see how many lives he has touched and how many people he has inspired, including myself. He will be missed,” she said.

Colozzi noted the connections he’s built with so many students over the years.

“We have them for four years, in classrooms, rehearsals, trips, competitions. It is hard not to get close to them,” he said. “I now have taught children of some of my first students.”

Colozzi said he will be leaving the Cranston music program in the capable hands of his colleagues.

“I know these people. I work with them and I trust them. It is time for the changing of the guard. I don’t want to be a shadow lurking in the corners,” he said.

Colozzi is very proud of all the accomplishments the music department has earned over the years.

“We won three New England Marching Championships, our Winter Percussion took the 2015 New England Championships in Trumbull, Conn., and we ranked in the top four three times at the Berklee Festival,” he said.

Despite the strain of reduced music programming and funding in the district in recent years, Colozzi praised his co-workers with keeping music alive and well in Cranston.

“We have gone through some very challenging times. We are on the rise again. We have the district support. Our citizens see the worth and how the children benefit from our program,” he said.

Colozzi spoke of the ways in which the program has changed during his tenure.

“In the early ’90s we did ‘Heard it Through the Grapevine.’ The kids were dressed as the California Raisins. We have come a long way since then. The program has evolved, we are taking greater risks musically but all of it is still entertaining,” he said.

Colozzi discussed how his new role at Providence College came to fruition.

“I was contacted in March by my friend, Sherry [Humes Dane], that she was leaving PC. ‘This is a great retirement job,’ she told me. I used to sing for her when I was in college,” he said.

He went through a phone interview, then a nine-hour interview on campus.

“There are a lot of people associated with this program. I really thought and thought about this decision. My family has been so supportive, and were OK with any decision I made,” he said.

The new position is part of the campus ministry program, which carries an important appeal for Colozzi.

“I am combining two of my passions, music and my faith. I will be leading retreats, performing ministry activities, and acting as a place for the students to come to. I will be a safe haven for them,” he said.

Colozzi will be in charge of music ministries at St. Domenic Chapel on the Providence College campus.

“In addition to my Sunday ministries, it is PC’s 100th year anniversary. It is going to be a lot of work and a lot of fun,” he said.

As for his legacy at Cranston High School East and the district’s entire music community, Colozzi said he has striven to get everyone to embrace music in whatever way they can.

“From music appreciation classes to any performing group, I want them to commit to it with all their soul, work together as a team, and they will become a family,” he said.

Colozzi gave assurances he will continue to sit on the Cranston East side of the annual Thanksgiving “Turkey Bowl” football game between East and his alma mater, Cranston West.

On May 26, Colozzi turned to Facebook to make the “official” announcement about his departure. Within minutes, it had gone viral through the music community.

His post ended up with 340 comments, 14 shares, and 511 response emojis. There were comments from students past and present, friends, family members, colleagues, and people from the Rhode Island music community.

The messages all conveyed the same sentiment – Colozzi is irreplaceable, more than a teacher, more than a friend, someone who influenced thousands of students during his time at Cranston East and Bishop Hendricken.

“When he came into my eighth-grade band class to talk about recruiting students to his band program at Cranston East, I was fascinated by how different he was. His passion for his program was intoxicating; his pep speech felt like we were about to go play a football game, and his energy was electric. Mark shaped me into who I am today as a leader and musician,” said Eric Kalver, who graduated in 2005 and currently lives in California.

“He would reassure me whenever I doubted myself, motivate us to work harder, and taught us how to be professional … The end of an era has come but will continue to live on with my other mentor in music, Greg Arsenault. I am truly grateful to have Mark in my life, and everything I’ve done in my musical career is all because of the confidence he has instilled in me. I am so proud of my mentor, teacher, and friend for wrapping up this chapter of his life and moving onto the next.”

Anna Meyers, who graduated in 2011, was part of the choir and chamber choir. She now lives in Boston.

“I remember the first time I auditioned for choir with Mr. C., everything was going great until tonal memory (singing back something he plays for you). It was not my strong suit and Mr. C. just laughed and said, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll work on it.’ That was his attitude toward everything. He found the light in any situation and would use it to not only lift the spirits of the choir but also push us to do our best,” she said. “Mr. C. taught us to work hard and he set such an example for doing that. He poured his time and heart into everything between band and choir, and not doing the same as his students was unacceptable.”

“Mr. Colozzi was a great person and a great teacher. He got to follow his love of music by sharing it with countless students, and he undoubtedly helped many students find their passion during their time at East,” said Max Cavas, a 2013 graduate who played trombone player in jazz band and attends American University in Washington, D.C.

Anthony Petrocchi, a 2005 graduate, was in the band all four years of high school, participating in marching band, concert band, and jazz band. He was drum major of the marching band in his senior year. He resides in Johnston, and is currently president of the Cranston East Alumni Band Association.

“It’s an example of how Mr. Colozzi became more than just a teacher to his students ... he was a true mentor and someone that had a huge positive affect on his students’ lives,” he said. “Because students have been able to grow such a relationship with him, he has been invited to and attended many weddings of his students, including my own last August.”

Former band parents have also been touched by Colozzi’s dedication to the students.

“His dedication to the marching band program taught my children real-world lessons about the rewards of hard work and perseverance. Our family will always remember his genuine love and pride for all of the marching band kids,” said Susan Halvarson, whose sons Axel and Eric both were five-year band members.

Colozzi has left his impression on his current students as well.

“I’ve been in choir since fifth grade and Mr. Colozzi is the best music teacher I ever had. And I have learned more about music and singing this year than the past four years together,” said freshman Kevin Nota. “Mr. Colozzi will sincerely be missed.”

Pam Lowell, another music teacher at East, truly poured her heart out when speaking of her colleague.

“It’s hard to put into words the meaning of who Mark Colozzi is to so many people. I think if you were one of the thousands of students, colleagues, and friends who experienced working with him, then you are a lucky person,” she said. “I’ve had the privilege of working at Cranston High School East as the orchestra director for the past 13 years. In that time, we’ve had some wonderful times and some very hard ones as well. No matter what has happened, Mark’s commitment to keeping the music program the very best in the state has been a steadfast. He’s like a match. He has a contagious passion for life and music.”

As a testament to Colozzi’s approach and positive impact, Lowell described a choir rehearsal:

“Right when the bell rings, 80 kids come down. They’re never late. It’s their favorite class of the day. They drop their cell phones at the door, take their own attendance, and get the music out that we are going to sing. And then we warm up. His warm ups are vigorous and use their focus, listening and watching skills. He picks music that’s meaningful, challenging, and the kids will enjoy. He teaches them to believe in themselves and that they have a responsibility to express this music the way it was intended … They do everything at the highest caliber with the greatest heart because that’s what Mr. Colozzi does.”

Lowell continued: “I’ve got a promise to keep, and it’s a big one. We’re keeping the Colozzi commitment going. The love of music is in us. Our ambitions are big and our achievements are endless. I can’t find another way to thank Mark than to work and continue the program that he built over these years. I can’t thank him enough for being my friend. For helping me when I needed it. He will be sorely missed and never be far from our hearts.”

Colozzi’s wife of 32 years, Joanne, knows she is the love of his life. She also knows he is happiest being around music.

“As much as his family means to him, Mark is the happiest when he is ‘fronting’ an ensemble – band, choir, etc.,” she said. “A great educator does not teach subject matter, rather he or she teaches people. Mark first and foremost taught individuals, respecting individual needs both personally as well as musically. He had respect, compassion, and appreciation for every student who was fortunate enough to be part of his ensembles … In his 36 years as a band director, Mark never once told me he was going to ‘work.’ Rather, he said he was going to ‘school,’ ‘rehearsal,’ or ‘band practice.’ He truly loved what he did. Any interaction with students was never a ‘job’ – it was what he truly loved to do, and what he did better than anyone else in the business. Many of his students have made extraordinary accomplishments in the music world, but all of his students are better people for having had Mr. C. in their lives.”

Mark’s younger daughter, Jenna, was not born when Colozzi started working at East. But she is as connected to the East music community as any other member of her family.

“My dad is the epitome of dedication. Whether it was a marching band practice in 95-degree weather, an unbearably cold Thanksgiving game, long trips to competitions, or countless hours rehearsing for concerts, he put in every ounce of passion, motivation, and commitment as possible,” she said. “He lives for his art, and he is a master in my eyes. I am honored to be ‘Mark’s daughter’ wherever I go, and when anyone talks to me about my dad, it is always positive. He not only has been an amazing music educator throughout the years, but more importantly a role model, leader, and inspiration to all who has been fortunate to work with him.”

Philip LaChance, music teacher at Cranston West, remembers Colozzi from their early days.

“I’ve known him since the fall of 1979. He was music director [Susan Tucker did choreography] of the swing choir at URI. He was a couple of years ahead of me but a monster musician … When it came time to do a performance, he’d find all these people to put a band together,” he said. “He’d ask people to do something and everyone would just do it, mostly because if you asked him for something he’d be there no questions asked, so everyone wanted to help him out. It’s pretty much the same now. He’s a great guy and you just want to do things for him.”

Artie Montanaro, a longtime friend of Colozzi’s and his counterpart at Cranston West, offered his feelings.

“Mark is like the Pied Piper of the Cranston and Rhode Island state music communities, and he has inspired countless students and colleagues for over three decades,” he said. “He not only is a great teacher, administrator, and music advocate, he is also an extremely gifted performer and director of various types of music groups. Whether directing the award-winning Thunderbolt Marching Band, jazz band, choir, or performing with the Ocean State Follies, or playing piano and directing the musicians for Miss Saigon at the Stadium Theatre with a newly injured elbow sustained while at a weight lifting event, or singing at someone’s wedding or funeral, or helping needy children on his annual Jamaican mission trip, Mark leads all around him by example.”

“Mark is an extremely talented musician and an amazing teacher who truly inspires his students, and his colleagues, every day,” Cranston Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse said. “His devotion to Cranston High School East is evident and his passion for music education is well-known throughout the state … He will be greatly missed.”

Cranston East Principal Sean Kelly acknowledged Colozzi at the school’s graduation ceremony on June 11.

After thanking all the teachers and students for their kind words, Colozzi closed with the greatest statement: “I am forever a Thunderbolt.”