Wayne P. Calderara, Sr.

BARRE – Wayne P. Calderara, Sr. 85 of Waterman Street “met his Lord Jesus Christ our Savior” on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Woodridge Health and Rehabilitation Center where he had resided for two years. His family was at his bedside.

Born on Mother’s Day, May 11, 1930 in Barre, he was the son of Amelio and Louise (Righini) Calderara. He graduated from Spaulding High School in 1948, was awarded a bachelor of arts degree from Norwich University in 1952, attended Albany Law School in New York and completed many post graduate, military, public service and social policy courses.

On December 27, 1952 he married Muriel Poitras at St. Monica Parish in Barre where they resided and raised their family.

Following his studies at Norwich University, Wayne served 28 years in the Army Reserve, including two years of active duty in Korea as Tank Unit Commander. He retired as Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve in 1981.

Wayne began his employment in the insurance business and worked for the State of Vermont for many years until his retirement as Federal Program Analyst for the Agency of Human Services.

He was a long-time and active member of St. Monica Parish, a teacher in Christian Doctrine and a past president of the Religious Education Committee

Wayne enjoyed fine dining with a special love of Italian cuisine, the NY Yankees, Norwich hockey, football games, fishing, playing cards, relaxing at Lake Fairlee and at the family camp on Peacham Pond. Some of his most cherished moments were spent attending his nine grandchildren’s sporting and musical events.

He was well-known in central Vermont for his active and varied involvement in civic affairs. He served as a Representative in the Vermont House Legislature, on the Vermont Republican Committee, on the Board of Civil Authority, Head Start, Green Mountain United Way, the Board of Real Estate Appraisers, the Vermont Retired State Employees Association, the Vermont Child Development Office, and as Day Care Program Director.

Wayne was a Corporate Member of the Central Vermont Medical Center. He was active in Barre Community Baseball, Babe Ruth and Little League assisting with the construction of Barre’s baseball fields. He was a Commissioner of the Barre Housing Authority, Barre Neighborhood Housing Services, the Vermont Council of Social Concerns, Vermont Samaritans Inc., the Boy Scouts of America, the American Cancer Society, The Board of Directors of Spaulding High School and Barre City Ward 5 Parent/Teachers Organization. Wayne will be remembered as an honored recipient of the Annual Barre Community Services Awards Program in 1991.

He is a 50-plus year member of the Mutuo, the Barre Lions Club, Barre Elks Club, the Canadian Club, Barre Post #10 American Legion and the Mackenzie-Webster Post #790 Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Wayne is survived by his children Mark Calderara and his wife, Susan; Wayne Calderara, Jr. and his wife, Alison; Beth and her husband, David Johns; Jan and her husband, Pierre Trepanier; Brian Calderara and his wife, JoEllen, all of Vermont. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Jillian and Ross Calderara, Evan, Jordan and her husband, Kevin Miller, and Avery Calderara, Alexandra and Nicky Johns and Jake Trepanier and his wife, Kelsey, and Aslin Trepanier; two cousins Phyllis Finnie and Dorothy Giudici of Connecticut and his special and dear friend Joan Fadden.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his loving wife, Muriel, of almost 50 years who died on February 25, 2002 and his special cousin, Lorraine Beaulieu.

A Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Monica Catholic Church. Burial with full Military Honors will be held at Hope Cemetery following the ceremony. There will be no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be sent to Woodridge Resident Activity Fund, PO Box 550, Barre, VT 05641 or Mackenzie-Webster Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #790, PO Box 185, East Barre, VT 05649.