Calvin C. Folmsbee

Calvin Coolidge Folmsbee, 99, of Enfield, CT passed away peacefully on November 27, 2023. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Patricia of 54 years who passed in October 2022. He is survived by five children by his first marriage: Nancy Denis and her husband Charles of Wheatridge, CO, Alan Folmsbee of Bristol, CT, David Folmsbee and his wife Stephanie of Uxbridge, MA, Jeffrey Folmsbee of NY, NY, Elizabeth Hodgson and her husband Steve White of Northridge, CA; and one child by his marriage to Patricia, John Folmsbee of New Haven, CT; his 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, all who absolutely adored him. He was predeceased by a brother, Leroy Folmsbee.

Calvin was born in Bayonne, NJ to Clyde and Pearl (Brust) and grew up in Berwick, PA. His childhood was filled with fond memories of exploring PA and spending summers as a boy scout at Camp Lavigne. During WWII, he enlisted in the Coast Guard and was stationed on the Gresham as a sonar operator. After the war, he attended Penn State College. He obtained his degree in mechanical engineering and was a member of the varsity swimming and diving team. He competed in pre-Olympic trials for diving, and was a show diver in Atlantic City, continuing to compete in diving competitions as an adult. He worked as an engineer his entire life, working for companies such as Wright Aeronautical, Hamilton Standard, Combustion Engineering, and ABB, eventually working on nuclear power plant design.

Cal was an accomplished athlete. In addition to swimming and diving, he enjoyed competing in white water kayak and ski races throughout his life. He loved camping, hunting, and fishing with his family. He excelled at archery, famously shooting a carp with a bow and arrow from a rowboat he meticulously built himself. He enjoyed kayaking and skiing well into his 90s. He was well known on Somer's Pond where he kayaked daily until he was 97. A quiet and modest man, he preferred being out in nature. He enjoyed kayaking around the beaver dams and watching the birds, but also enjoyed the periodic adrenaline rush of careening down a mountainside or over white water rapids. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will cherish the memories of him enjoying the outdoors while trying to keep up alongside him on the slopes or catching up to him in his homemade red kayak. A legend to those that knew him, he will be deeply missed.

Relatives and friends may join the family on Monday, December 4, 2023, from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South Rd, Enfield. A Funeral Procession will gather on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 9:30 am at the funeral home for 11:00 am burial with Military Honors at The Massachusetts Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main St, Agawam, MA 01001. For online condolences please visit leetestevens.com