Columbus
Robert C. Calderone, 91, of Columbus, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 18th, 2017, at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.
Robert (Bob) was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 16, 1925. He was the son of Salvatore and Grace Calderone.
Bob married Anne Louise Strobel on June 28, 1952, in Trumbull, Connecticut.
He joined the Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet during WWII, graduated and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1944.
He received his BS degree from the University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Connecticut. He also completed the Indiana Executive Program, Indiana University, Bloomington.
He moved to Columbus in 1970. Bob retired as vice president in aftermarket sales from Arvin Automotive in Dec. 1986 to become president of The Automotive Information Council, Southfield, Michigan, retiring in 1990. He went on to teach advertising and marketing courses at Ivy Tech Columbus campus in 1991 and 1992.
He was a featured speaker at many Automotive Service Industry state and national functions, was a recipient of the Northwood Institute (now Northwood University) Automotive Replacement Industry Education Award and chaired various other education and training automotive committees.
He enjoyed volunteer work as past chairman of the South East Indiana SCORE Chapter, was a member of the Mill Race Services Board of Directors and a St. Bartholomew council member.
He helped work with students at Fodrea and Southside Elementary schools, as well as being a Book Buddy and Minds on Math mentor at Southside. He was also known as Bampaw, a Mill Race Clown who enjoyed getting children and adults to smile and laugh. He was the 2016 Mill Race Center Volunteer of the Year recipient.
Bob was a past member of Harrison Lake Country Club and was an avid golfer. He also enjoyed woodworking, reading and traveling with family.
Survivors include his daughter, Paula J. (Mike) Bandos of Columbus; grandchildren Betzi Anne (Walter) Hernandez of Indianapolis and Bradley J. (Gina) Behler of Edgewood, Washington. Also, great-grandchildren, Dawson J. Mendez and Diego V. Fuentes (fondly referred to as Big D. and Little D. by their great-grandfather), both of Indianapolis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Anne, in Jan. 2010; his loving son, Bruce R. Calderone, in Nov. 2014; and his brother, Howard Calderone.
A Mass of Christian of burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church with Father Clem Davis officiating. Family and friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home on Washington Street. Inurnment will be at Garland Brook Mausoleum with military honors presented by the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with Robert’s family at barkesweaverglick.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana or St. Bartholomew Catholic Church.
barkesweaverglick.com
