Pasquale A. Calandro

PASQUALE A. CALANDRO ("Poppy"), age 84, of Cheshire, CT, and Bay Village, OH, passed away into God's loving arms, on February 8 , 2025, after succumbing to a courageous, unrelenting fight against pancreatic cancer. He was born on 7/21/1940, in New Haven, CT. He graduated from East Haven High School, in 1959. After high school, he graduated from radiology school and became a radiological technician.He will always be remembered for his extraordinary kindness, decency, and sacrifice for others. He was one of the most loving, caring, and generous people to have ever walked the Earth.He will also be remembered as a member of the Tribe of Story Tellers. Few people who walk this Earth could spin a yarn or tell a tale as well as he could. He could grab an audience, then keep them enthralled to the end of the story. And, boy could he make people laugh! He told people tales of growing up in a different era. Poppy spread love through his cooking, which was the stuff of legend. He prided himself on driving into the New Haven ghetto to visit Ferraro's grocery, buying food packages with 6, differently-colored stickers on them (of increasing discount and age), then turning the incredibly-old and cheap food into culinary masterpieces.He grew up in a tough family situation. Yet, he crafted himself into a kind, caring, loving person.And, despite his humble beginnings, he became a successful professional ultimately becoming the Chief of the Radiology Department, at both Temple Medical Center and Yale New Haven Hospital. Prior to this, he had the idea to build a privately-owned medical clinic, which idea led to the creation of the pioneering and highly-regarded Temple Medical Center. Poppy is survived by his son Christian M. Calandro, (Wife: Geneene Hawes-Luedee Calandro Children: Mitchell Calandro, Dyllon Calandro Wolf, Daniel Calandro, and daughter Nicolle C. McGowan, DM, MD (Husband: Thomas B. McGowan, IV, KM, JD, MBA; Children: Abigail P. McGowan and Thomas B. McGowan, V.Poppy is also survived by his brother Anthony P. Calandro (of East Haven, CT) and sister Joanne Petrosino (of Branford, CT). Poppy's parents were Santella Ferraiolo DeMauro and Michael DeMauro (step-father). Pat joins his wife Marcia H. Calandro (nee Lesnieski) and his beloved dogs (Nosey, George, Dingo, and Mahlu) in Heaven. We're sure that Jesus just said, "So THAT's how you made the sausage and peppers "You have touched so many lives, Poppy. Thank you for all the love that that you gave us and the life lessons that you taught us. We will miss you so very much! A mass and reception will be held in The Adirondacks (the place where he was happiest), at some point in the future. A reception will be held in the New Haven, CT, area, at some point in the future.In lieu of flowers, please spend your money to purchase the ingredients to make Pasta e Fagioli, then make it and spend wonderful, loving times with your family. That's what Poppy would have wanted.

Pasquale A. Calandro

February 24, 2025