Jim-Calabrese-Obituary

Jim Calabrese

STATESVILLE, North Carolina

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STATESVILLE, North Carolina

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Jim Calabrese STATESVILLLE Mr. James "Jim" Daniel Calabrese, 82, of Statesville, passed away Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at Iredell Memorial Hospital. Mr. Calabrese was born Feb. 18, 1931, in Windber, Pa., and was a graduate of Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. and Concord College in Athens, W.Va. On June 11, 1955, he married Mavis Surface Calabrese, who survives, of the home. Jim and Mavis moved to Statesville in 1961, where he began working with the Iredell-Statesville School System. In 1961, he became the band and music director at Statesville High School and started the Grenadier Marching Band. In 1974, he moved to West Iredell High School and started the Warrior Marching Band. He retired in 1995. He was a member of St. Philip The Apostle Catholic Church and was a former member of Statesville Civitan Club. He formed the Mitchell Community College Band and was a talented clarinet and saxophone player who could play solo, duet, trio, quartet or with a full band. He was a member and performed with the Take Note Band. He was invited and performed with the Tommy Dorsey Band, Lawrence Welk Band, Liberace, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Bob Hope Show, Patti Page, Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Southern Fried Jazz Band in Charlotte. In addition to his wife, Jim is survived by one daughter, Susan C. Wise, of Statesville; one son, James Daniel Calabrese III, of Statesville; two granddaughters, Beth Wise Harris (Joseph) and Emily J. Wise; and one great-grandson, Samuel (Sam) Harris. Memorial services celebrating the life of Jim Calabrese will be conducted at 12 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in the St. Philip The Apostle Catholic Church, with the Rev. Father Kurt Fohn and Deacon Matthew Reilly officiating. The family will visit with friends Saturday at the church, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Iredell Christian Ministries, Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, Humane Society of Iredell County and to St. Philip The Apostle Catholic Church. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholson funerals.com. Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the Calabrese family.

This obituary was originally published in the Statesville Record & Landmark.

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Continue to RIH Mr. C ALWAYS IN MY ❤

Jim Calabrese was my band instructor at what was then Oakwood Junior High School. He was one of the few teachers in Statesville that I really admired, and it was because he had such a grasp of his craft. He knew music, he knew how to teach it, and he knew how to inspire those around him. I was never great on the trumpet, but to this day, at 65 years old, I still remember the fingering, and any limitations were mine. I live in NYC, so I had not seen that he had passed. It was a life well...

I still think of Mr. C when I approach a traffic light. "When the light changes EVERYONE must move so that's just like our band lines". Loved the excitement whenever the band practiced and presented. My parents were excited to meet another Italian family in Statesville.

The best band director ever. This is one man I will never forget! FOREVER IN MY HEART ♡♡♡ R.I.P

Mr. C. Will forever be remembered as a true man of integrity, kind hearted, giving his all.

Still can't believe that you're gone Mr. C. Until we meet again.

Whenever I look at the pictures on our Grenidier alumni page the memory of you Mr. Calabrese is just like it was yesterday. You was a wonderful man and the Greatest Band Director. You will forever stay in my Heart. R.I.P.

Jim was great inspiration to all of us young band students. He not only taught music but taught us like lessons and developed us to be the best we can. He was just one of the greatest and will always be a hero of mine.

Message from Rickey Stamps: thanks Donna H. Thanks classmate for remembering me. I miss your infectious smile e-mail address: [email protected]