Mr. Santo Vito Calabrese

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

My dad will be greatly missed. I will miss our nightly conversations about sports and politics. I will also miss watching the kids talk to him. I know that made him very happy. My family appreciates all the anecdotes and remembrances.

The first memories that come to my mind of my uncle, are of all the Christmases we spent at his home on Staten Island. The kids (all the cousins) down in the basement playing, the adults all upstairs preparing, and when Uncle Cal called your name there was not a chance you would not hear him. Always the loudest voice in the room... and I wouldn't want him any other way. More recently he left me with memories of his genuine caring about my well being. Always asking about me, how I'm doing, and how my children are. I am sad and sorry that he is no longer here with us. Sending my love to my uncle, my Aunt Mary Ann, my cousins Lisa, Christine and Domenic, and their families.
Maria Zeni

I will miss talking with him every night and visiting him in San Diego. He was a great grandpa.

I will miss cooking with him and our trips Palm Springs. He was a great grandpa.

We are grateful to have attended the touching services....especially glad to share moments with family and friends.

Dear Maryann and Children:
There are some experiences in life "they" have'nt invented the right words for....
My heartfelt sympathy in the loss of your beloved husband and father...
Am remembering my cousin Santo in prayer.
Cousin, Rosemarie

Thanks...

Thanks, Uncle Cal...
for being in my earliest memories.
for the loud jokes and the quick wit.
for the 4th of July barbecues and
for the Mallory Avenue fireworks.
for being responsible.
for showing us slides on your old-fashioned slide projector in the basement on Lighthouse Hill.
for being brave.
for you and Aunt MaryAnn having hilarious conversations and always being you and Aunt MaryAnn.
for being a family man and a hard worker.
for our amazing cousins who shared our childhood.
for helping me rent my first apartment.
for telling your opinions about traveling and buying cars.
for getting my husband to dress up like Barney.
for encouraging us when our Mom passed away.
for a bunch of big things and a million little things...thank you with love.

We are praying and thinking of you during this sad time. Love to Aunt MaryAnn, Lisa, Christine, Dom and all of your families.

My Uncle Cal was the epitome of the all around "great guy"- the uncle comfortable at a ball game, a family gathering, a college or grad school graduation, a performance or game of one of the grandkids etc. His "no-nonsense" advice on matters large and small was always appreciated and "right on target". Of all the great memories, I love how he became "chef supreme" after his well-earned retirement and would have a gourmet dinner ready for Aunt Mare when she got home from work. Of the countless humorous anecdotes or visuals if you will, one of my favorites occurred the day when we drove up to the Lighthouse Hill house on Esther de Pew St and poor Dom had the unenviable task of holding the tools as Uncle Cal fixed one of the cars- the cursing was priceless and Dom endured it like a man. Also loved all the Mallory Avenue Christmas Eves and the calzones Unce Cal made....also recall one gathering after his bypass surgery and Uncle Cal was thoroughly enjoying a cocktail and an antipasto filled with suprasata, dried salamis & basically everything he had been told not to eat..My line: "Uncle Cal, are you supposed to be eating that?" His response: "Hey, Johnny, ya gotta live, right?" And live he did...RIP Uncle Cal- one of the funniest men I ever knew, one of the greats. Love, Johnny.

Fond memories of many holiday and Sunday dinners shared with Santo, his family, his mother and father, his sisters Angie and Ida all the children. Everyone sitting around the table enjoying great macaroni, a lot of laughter, loud talking, card games after dinner with the kids hanging around the table wanting to play cards with us. Santo was great company, we will miss him. Terry and Jim

Uncle Cal's love of family, Italian traditions, the sentiment of "working hard and playing hard" has always been a source of happiness and inspiration to me. He will truly be missed but he leaves behind many memories of laughter, closeness and good times with family. My prayers and sympathy to Aunt MaryAnn and his beautiful family.

Lisa and family--our deepest sympathy on the passing of your Dad.

My dad, Cal, taught his kids to be tough and self-reliant but remained my trusted advisor to the day he died. Cal never tired of hearing the gritty details of my challenges on the work front and was always right on target with his game plans. His unwavering support is perhaps my greatest loss. -Christine