Obituary of Ernest J. Calamari

Ernest J. Calamari, age 88 of Essex, passed away Monday evening October 8th at the Middlesex Hospital in Middletown. He was the beloved husband of Elizabeth (Pitts) Calamari who passed away on July 25, 2003. Ernie had made his home in Essex for the past 11years moving from Deep River to reside with his son Peter and his family. He was born in Deep River, the son of Peter T. and Gertrude N. (Ziegra) Calamari. Raised in Deep River he was the President of the Class of 1943 at Deep River High School. Ernie was drafted into the United States Army during his senior year and received his diploma upon his return home. He proudly served his country during World War II as a member of 296th Combat Engineers Battalion in the European Theater participating in the Invasion of Normandy, the Ardennes Offensive and continuing into the Battle of the Bulge. His combat battalion was one the first to enter Berlin. Ernie was employed by the State of Connecticut Department of Bridges for 34 years and he also had a 26 year career in the Repair Department at Whelen Engineering in Chester. He was a great lover of baseball and was an avid Boston Red Sox fan since 1932. He was well known for his pitching abilities and enjoyed many years of playing softball for numerous teams throughout the Lower Connecticut River Valley. He was a member of the Deep River Fire Department and a communicant at Saint Joseph's Church in Chester. Besides his son Peter C. Calamari and his wife Jean Anne he leaves his daughter, Rhonda Forristall and her husband Richard of Deep River, grandchildren, Robin Ashton and Richard Forristall, Jr., Amanda and Timothy Calamari, and great-grandchildren, Charles Aston and Olive and Hazel Forristall, and his brother, Carroll A. Calamari of Waterford. Ernie was predeceased by his two sisters, Theodora O'Connor and Louise Cerruti. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 12th from 5:00PM to 7:00PM at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street in Centerbrook. A graveside service with the Rendering of Military Honors will be held on Saturday, October 13th at 11:00AM in the Resurrection Cemetery, Route 145 in Westbrook. Memorial contribution may be made in his name to the Deep River Fire Department, 57 Union St., Deep River, CT 06417, Middlesex Hospital Hospice and Palliative Care, 28 Crescent St., Middletown, CT 06457, or to a charity of the donor's choice. To share a memory of Ernie or send a condolence to his family please visit www.rwwfh.com