Andrew Joseph "Andy" Calderone

Andrew Joseph “Andy” Calderone, age 86, passed away on May 20, 2014 after a long illness.

Andrew graduated from Ellet High School in 1946. He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1950, and a Master’s in Education Administration in 1958 from Kent State University. During his 35-year career for the Akron Public Schools, he worked as a teacher, basketball and football coach at East High School, an assistant principal at South High School, and a principal at Goodyear Jr. High School. While serving as a principal in 1970, he earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron School of Law, and was the first ever in-house attorney and Director of Legal Services for the Akron Board of Education. Andrew was also the first ever recipient of the Summit County Basketball Coach of the Year award in 1960, inducted into the East High School Hall of Fame, and recipient of the Kent State University Outstanding Alumni award.

After retirement from the Akron Board of Education, Andrew worked as a private practice attorney from 1973 to 2003. Andrew inspired his children to follow in his footsteps as they became educators, an administrator, and an attorney. Andrew was always grateful for the opportunity to work during the summer months – and relentlessly worked to provide for his family. During his career, he worked as a heavy equipment operator, a long-distance truck driver, and as a Portage Lakes Park Patrol officer.

Over his lifetime, Andy was ever the entrepreneur, owning his own Christmas tree business (with lots in Ellet and Cuyahoga Falls), a dump truck company, a construction company, a sporting goods store, a furniture stripping business, a Cajun food seasoning business, and a gas station. Second only to the love of his family, Andy’s passions were cooking and fishing. Andy captained his own boat known as the “A.J. Funtime” and hosted legendary fish fries and clam bakes for his family and close friends. A long-time gardener, Andrew planted hundreds of tomatoes, peppers, beans, and other vegetables each year to preserve, cook and give away to his friends. Every August would find him making his signature spaghetti sauce for family and friends. His love of food and dedication to his family was never more apparent than during his traditional Italian Christmas Eve feasts he planned and cooked each year.

He treasured every moment of his 63-year marriage to his “angel” and surviving wife, Pauline. He was proud of - and survived by – his children, Mary Ruth Schifano (Jack), James Andrew Calderone (Karen), Thomas Edward Calderone (Rosemary) and Kenneth Andrew Calderone (Michele). Andrew is also survived by his 11 grandchildren, Tom, Elizabeth, Amelia, Kelly, Becky, Andy, Lisa, Danny, Alexander, Megan and Abbey; and also by nine great-grandchildren. Andrew joined in heaven his parents, Rudy and Frances, and his brothers, Mickele and Julius.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 547 Canton Road, Akron, Ohio 44312. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, 10 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 83 Mosser Place, Akron, Ohio 44310, with Father Edward A. Burba presiding. Procession will leave the funeral home at 9:40 a.m. to depart for the church. Burial will follow at Hillside Memorial Park. The family suggests memorials to the church.