Jose CALDERON

Spokane - Jose Gregorio Calderon, age 61, passed away at home on January 3, 2024. Diagnosed in June 2023 with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, Jose finally encountered the one thing in life that he could not defeat by sheer force of will and personality. He fought hard for these past 6 months and met his goal of celebrating one last Christmas surrounded by family and friends. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Jose moved to Seattle in 1982. In 1987 he met his future wife, Crista, and chose to stay home when they welcomed their first child, Keaton. Gabi (Gabriela) soon followed and Jose was a stay-at-home dad to them throughout their childhood - by far his proudest achievement in life. In 1998 the family moved to Spokane, where they have lived ever since. A deciding factor in the move was the abundance of beautiful and affordable golf courses in the area. Aside from his family, golf was the thing Jose loved best. He relished the challenge, the camaraderie, the competition. Jose played in countless tournaments over the years, winning his flight multiple times in the Spokane City Championship. Jose could fill a room with his presence. Always the loudest voice at the party, with the biggest smile and most contagious laugh, Jose lived life to the fullest every single moment. No one who met Jose could ever forget him - and he never forgot them. Jose will be remembered for his fiery passion, his fun-loving personality, and his singular gravelly voice. Jose is survived by Crista (Gustafson), his wife of 33 years; son Keaton (29), daughter Gabi (27); sisters Ligia (Toronto), Mercedes (Correns, France), and Isabella (Caracas, Venezuela). He leaves behind many dear friends, but three he considered as brothers, JR Peters, Scott Manyon, and Rodolfo Mendible. To all these people and others (especially Erica Apfelbaum) who have supported our family these past 6 months, we want to say thank you - we could not have made it through this difficult time without your unconditional love. Thank you also to Cancer Care Northwest who guided Jose in his fight against this terrible disease that has claimed far too many lives. A celebration of life will be held later this year (TBD) in Jose's honor. We will laugh, shake some margaritas, and toast to this unforgettable man.