Dr. George Kaluger

1921 - 2007

Dr. George Kaluger, 85, of 625 Brenton Road, Shippensburg, died Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, in his home.

Born Sep. 20, 1921, in Tataria, Alba Iulia, Romania, he was a son of the late Niculae and Valeria Suteu Kaluger.

He was a member of Grace United Church of Christ, Shippensburg.

He was a first lieutenant with the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, serving with the 381st Bomb Group and 534th Bomb Squadron as a bombardier-navigator in the European Theatre. He flew 35 combat missions, receiving two Purple Hearts, five Oakleaf Clusters and the ETO with four Bronze Battle Stars.

He received his bachelor's degree in education from Slippery Rock University in 1946, master's in education in 1948 and Ph.D in 1950 from the University of Pittsburgh and did post-doctoral work at Penn State University, University Park, until 1955.

Dr. Kaluger began his employment at Shippensburg University in 1953 and retired in 1989 where he was a professor of psychology. He was elected the first chairperson of the newly former Psychology Department, serving from 1972 until 1974. He was awarded the Commonwealth Distinguished Teaching Chair, organized and advised Alpha Phi Omega, was an adviser to the SU cheerleaders for 20 years, was named honorary alumni by the SU General Alumni Association, served as national annual co-chair for the SU Foundation, received SU's Exceptional Service Award for Volunteerism and served on numerous leadership positions with the SU Foundation. The Kalugers were charter members of the Tower Associates Annual Fund Gift Club; they also established the George and Meriem Kaluger Human Heritage Fund with the SU Foundation.

Prior to Dr. Kaluger's invitation to Shippensburg, he was a science and math teacher and counselor in the Butler public schools.

Dr. Kaluger was a caring human being who always thought of others before himself and looked at life from a very positive perspective.

As a private practitioner in clinical psychology, Dr. Kaluger and his wife pioneered many studies to evaluate and help children, students and adults. He was involved with the Capitol Area Intermediate Unit, Camp Hill and Lincoln Intermediate, Cross Keys.

He was past president and member of the Shippensburg Rotary Club, Shippensburg Historical Society and the Tuesday Club in Shippensburg, a member of the Cumberland Valley Lodge 315 F&AM, Shippensburg, and Valley Forest145 Tall Cedars of Lebanon. Through Rotary, he received the Paul Harris Service Award.

Dr. Kaluger and his wife Meriem were co-authors of several books dealing with learning disabilities and human development, including "Clinical Aspects of Remedial Reading," "Profiles in Human Development, Reading and Learning Disabilities," "Tower Tales: A Collection of Reminiscences and Antidotes" of their time and recollections about Shippensburg University and Old Main, where they lived with students early in their career at Shippensburg University and "Walk on the Sunny Side of Life," a fun book designed to help people live life with a positive attitude.

His hobby was what he called adventure traveling, visiting all seven continents including more than 100 countries or regions.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Meriem Fair Kaluger, whom he married June 11, 1947, and died July 6, 2006; also a sister and a brother are deceased.

Dr. Kaluger is survived by a sister-in-law, Chris Kaluger of Yuma, Ariz.; three nieces; four great-nephews; and a great-niece.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16, in the Grace United Church of Christ, Shippensburg. Officiating will be the Rev. George W. Heckard and the Rev. Dr. Francis H. Norton. Burial with military honors conducted by the Shippensburg American Legion and VFW posts will be held in Spring Hill Cemetery. A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. Friday until time of services in the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the George and Meriem Kaluger Human Heritage Fund with the Shippensburg University Foundation, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257.

Arrangements are being handled by Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home, Shippensburg.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com.