Contributions to the tribute of George Calano Jr.

(718) 761-5544 | matthewfh@matthewfuneralhome.com | 2508 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314

Home
About Us
Obituaries & Condolences
Send Flowers
Funeral & Cremation
Pre-Arrangement
- Pre-Planning Services
- Pre-Arrange Online
Resources
Directions

In Memory of

George Calano Jr.

1949 - 2022

Tribute Wall

Obituary
Tribute Wall
Service Information
Memories

Share / Subscribe to this tribute

Share Obituary:

Monday

August

Visitation at Funeral Home

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Monday, August 1, 2022

Matthew Funeral Home And Cremation Services, Inc.

2508 Victory Blvd.

Staten Island, New York, United States

Get Directions

Tuesday

August

Visitation at Funeral Home

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Matthew Funeral Home And Cremation Services, Inc.

2508 Victory Blvd.

Staten Island, New York, United States

Get Directions

Wednesday

August

Final Resting Place

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Moravian Cemetery

2205 Richmond Road

Staten Island, New York, United States

Get Directions

Wednesday

August

Mass

10:45 am

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

St. Teresa's RC Church

1634 Victory Blvd

Staten Island, New York, United States

Get Directions

Stanley lit a candle

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/v2/candles/material_candle_blue.jpg

I am so sorry I took so long to say how sorry that your husband, Father and my very good friend has died. He certainly was in the best shape and health of all us guys at Collegiate when I worked there. We had many great years and now memories from our years together. It seriously brings tears to my eyes that he is not with you anymore. He sure had a lot of personality I hope Marci got at least some of that. I truly wish you both the happiness and love that George would want for you. Sincerely Stan Rogers

Please wait

Share Comment

Alex DeBoissiere posted a condolence

Friday, August 5, 2022

I will miss my 'big brother' George. I did not have an older sibling. George was generous with his time and advice. He took me under his wing and taught me life's lessons about girls, cars, sports, school and the draft. I will never forget his kindnesses. I also thank everyone who shared him with me. With deepest condolences and love. Alex DeBoissiere

Please wait

Share Comment

Gordon Ogden posted a condolence

Friday, August 5, 2022

My condolences to the family of Coach Calano, who was universally adored by the Collegiate School student body. My choice to play baseball over run track for coach is a regret, however he always treated me and every student as if they were a prized member of his track team. An easy going manner that belied his quiet tenacity and world beating capability as a coach. Coach told us a story about his high school and trying out for the baseball team. The baseball team had hundreds of kids trying out for the team and even though during outfield try outs he caught all three balls and fired 3 strikes to the cut off man, he was still cut. He thought the coaches had already decided earlier in the day the kids who were going to be on the team. His performance, as good as it was, might have mattered more earlier in the day, or if he had been known to the baseball coaches. A wonderful story that he smiled about, and, I suspect, told to us as a great life lesson on life circumstances and perceived success and set backs. Coach Calano you will be terribly missed. Gordon Ogden class '81

Please wait

Share Comment

Dan Ackman posted a condolence

Friday, August 5, 2022

I was of one of Coach Calano's student athletes at Collegiate School, both in JV soccer and wrestling. I was never star and never part of the great teams that Coach formed after I graduated in 1981. But I always appreciated Coach's humor and joyful demeanor. His signature line that I most recall is when he was putting us through a punishing run and we stated to flag, Coach would either join the run or announce to us "I'm not tired." He would say this from the sideline. And indeed if he was not tired, how could we be tired. We gained energy -- and a smile-- from him. R.I.P. Dan Ackman

Please wait

Share Comment

Albert "A" Haber posted a condolence

Thursday, August 4, 2022

Wanted to share my condolences to Coach Calano's family and friends. I was a cross country, indoor, and outdoor track runner at Collegiate and graduated in 1998. He was my coach all of those seasons and made me understand what it meant to be part of a team. I was never the fastest, but that never meant that he didn't want me to keep trying to do my best. I continued to run in college as well and made wonderful friends and memories against the backdrop of being on a team. Having coach there for that meant more than the running itself. It really went beyond the races, intervals, busrides, long runs in Central Park and all that other physical. The comradery with coach and my teammates meant more to me than all of that. It was his subtle leadership teachings that will always stick with me. Since our first day of practice in Central Park we were taught by the older kids to salute the cat at the top of the hill and I always did and always will continue to do so and think of Coach Calano every single time I pass that landmark. Best wishes to his friends and family. Albert "A" Haber, Collegiate School class of 1998.

Please wait

Share Comment

German LLarch posted a condolence

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

George Calano was a kind soul to everyone he met at Collegiate. The Maintenance Crew of Collegiate school had a special bond with him. He will always be remembered for his good humor and easy existence. Thank you Calano . You will be missed. Collegiate Maintenance and Security Staff

Please wait

Share Comment

Guido uploaded photo(s)

Monday, August 1, 2022

/public-file/3132/Ultra/4cd7e2ec-87ed-40a9-9d62-dc06b87a6eef.jpeg

George has left great strength in hundreds of men that had the fortune to have him as a coach. George gave to young minds very valuable teachings, principles, courage and equanimity that will serve them for life. As father of one of these men I am very grateful to George, he gave my son a treasure I would not have been able to give him. His premature departure touches us deeply, George will live in the hearts, memory and actions of hundreds of runners and their families. A great legacy! Guido, Marco and Masa POMPILJ and Eve Gittelson

Please wait

Share Comment

Michael Quinn posted a condolence

Sunday, July 31, 2022

I just wanted to offer my condolences to the entire Calano family for losing a true saint this past week. George and I worked together for six years at the Collegiate school (1991-1997), and he truly mentored me to be the best teacher and coach I could be both in and out of school. George was instrumental in helping me go from a teacher to an administrator at age 27, because he believed in me and gave me the self confidence to move down south and build a program from the ground up. Two years later, I brought George down as a paid consultant to help us build a student activity center that would take our athletic program to the next level. I apologize that I cannot find the pictures of him as a consultant but we had a blast down south. Overall, George had a blast with anyone that was in his presence because he always knew how to be himself and that is a lesson I will never forget from him. Lastly, my favorite George moment is whenever we had a drink together he would always lift his pinky finger up and look you in the eye and say cheers. Cat you will always be remembered and thanks for always giving yourself to help others! Love, Mike Quinn

Please wait

Share Comment

David Shorr posted a condolence

Sunday, July 31, 2022

I’m one of those people who loves going to reunions to see old friends and mentors. And my track coach George Calano was one of the mentors I was especially glad to see whenever I went back. Not only was he an important part of my Collegiate education, but his mentorship continued for years afterward. At my ten-year reunion I arranged to meet with George and Collegiate’s indoor high jump pit. I hadn’t jumped since my junior year of college and was curious what I could still do. Based on that little experiment, I went back to jumping competitively and continued for another decade and a half—into my mid-40s. George was a consummate educator. I’m sure many Collegiate alums us are offering testimony, but I wanted to recount the way he supported me in this one athletic thing I discovered I could. The high jump is a pretty technical event, form makes all the difference in hurling yourself over the crossbar. George videotaped my jumping technique so we could look for ways to improve. Seems simple now, when you can record just by pointing your smartphone, but in 1978 that was pretty innovative at the high school level. As things turned out, I was the first of three graduates of George’s track program to go on and do varsity track at the same university. That in itself is kinda cool. The truly important point, though, is how favorably Coach Calano compared with our college coaches. I wouldn’t presume to speak for the others, but I feel safe in saying George was the much better leader and teacher. I’m forever grateful for his support and wanted to be sure and share this with Barbara and Marci. David Shorr '79

Please wait

Share Comment

The family of George Calano Jr. uploaded a photo

Friday, July 29, 2022

/tribute-images/2397/Ultra/George-Calano-Jr.jpg

Please wait

Raymond Voelkel uploaded photo(s)

Thursday, July 28, 2022

/public-file/3121/Ultra/c5746cf9-3ddb-4aba-8e40-7947900cc30f.jpeg

I've known George for 38 years, went to 30 preseason camps (soccer and x-country teams) together-The Marian Shrine - Camp Jewel - Camp Sloane Sat next to him in the office that we shared until he became Athletic Director 15 years ago Shared many a story with him late night on the west side. But I must admit – I didn’t appreciate his expertise all of those years: I was in my own little world - soccer, basketball, and baseball and George was in his running world. He helped guide the x-country and track teams to so many Ivy and NYSAIS titles that you stopped asking after a while if they won the championship. You knew the answer. Coach never took credit while he strategized how to score extra points in both sports but, man, was he was really good at it. It wasn’t until he officially retired from teaching, but not from coaching, that I got to spend more time with him as the new AD. It started at Camp Sloane, where for the 1st time I watched him in action, tailing him around as he dropped one running group off, circled to watch a different group, getting to another spot to direct the 1st group, and so own for 60 minutes. Times were taken - and George was back at camp, copying the times down, yet able to tell me that so and so was off the pace of so and so from 15 years ago and so and so didn’t run enough during the summer because his time should have been 15 seconds quicker. I never knew why Coach even bothered to write the times down - he had all the info in his head. The afternoon was filled with stretching and strengthening and everything the athletes did had a purpose. I also remember him in my early teaching days coach me in soccer - giving me his soccer “bible” book that he explained I should read to learn some really good info about different skills and formations. George coached soccer for a while before going full time to x-country - and I'll tell you - he would have been one hell of a soccer coach. I talked with George often after that about soccer and what he might do in such and such a situation, often taking his suggestions. If you know Coach well you know he didn’t want this night to be honored - low key and modest - but when we said it was about the success of the cross country runners and track and field athletes he changed his mind. Good athletes make great coaches and great coaches make good athletes great - and that is what makes Coach Calano a great coach and why he has been involved in coaching so many great teams. He had athletes that wanted to improve and that was all Coach cared about. Right before I became AD I also trailed George around, getting an incredible amount of info about how to run the department, do the budget, file the paperwork and so on. Again he was incredibly talented and giving of his time. George was the 1st one in the office and the last to leave. At camp I wondered if he bothered going to sleep at night - last up - first up. My respect for George was always present but it grew and grew after spending more time with him. I think though, that Coach's biggest accomplishment, was how he built his teams into becoming great teammates. As individual a sport as running can be, George got each of the individual athletes to understand the greater good was the team and becoming great teammates was most important - the experience of being on a Collegiate team. Thank you George “The Cat” Calano for all that you have done for the boys you have coached, for all you have done for the athletic department, and of course, for Collegiate.

Please wait

Share Comment

John Alexander uploaded photo(s)

Thursday, July 28, 2022

/public-file/3119/Ultra/c05163b6-198a-45f1-9cd9-d5963c48fc97.jpg

George was my wrestling coach in middle school at Collegiate, and my track coach through senior year. Through all that time, I don't remember another coach, or any teacher for that matter, with the kind of good humor and kindness that he always showed all of us boys, and with a healthy dose of wonderfully humorous sarcasm, always delivered with a smile. I remember that we used to call him Serpico in the 1970s because of his beard and long hair. It was George who coached me to become a championship shot putter, and he enjoyed telling me for years after I graduated that my record had still held. Until it didn't. It was almost a little joke between us. I was tremendously fond of him, and I am more sorry than I can express in words. To his family, please accept my most sincere condolences at this terrible loss. Rest in peace, George, and thank you for all that you did.

Please wait

Share Comment

<< Previous Next >>

Share Your Memory of

George

Upload Your Memory View All Memories

Be the first to upload a memory!

Share A Memory

Bereavement Services