John W. Calogar

Dad went on his final fishing trip, Thursday, July 8th, 2010, surrounded by Love at the family retreat in Marblehead. He had been in failing health the previous 18 months. Born at home in Cleveland, Ohio June 25, 1923, he was an athlete, a ladies man with "The Vamps" and an entrepreneur in his early days. After fulfilling his duties with the Army during WW II he became part owner in the small family chain of restaurants, The Avenue Sandwich Shop, The Coney Island, and the Coney Island West. When he felt the need to provide Service, he became a volunteer with the West View Village Fire Department. West View soon merged with Olmsted Falls and Dad became the first Fire Chief of that combined community (1970 -1988). Paramedic training was new on the horizon and Dad dove into that new spirit of "giving back". Not only did he become a paramedic but he was the first Chief in the state who became a Paramedic! There were other Paramedics who became chief but not the other way around. Dad was a family man who always held or started "other jobs" to keep his hands busy and family cared for. He was someone you could always count on when you needed a helping hand, whether that meant cooking up a pancake breakfast to benefit the fire department or spending the 4th of July putting on the community fireworks display, a spare bedroom, or just fixing a broken lock for a neighborhood shut in. Dad grew up in "Old Brooklyn" graduated from Rhodes High School, and Cuyahoga Community College. He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Marilyn (nee Uhle) and grandson Jason Calogar, two infant boys, as well as parents Florence (Trepka) and George Calogar and brothers, Harry and Albert. He is survived by children Sherill Nace Lakewood, Kenneth (Charlene) Marblehead, Sally Royston, NP, Toledo and John "Dirt" (Debbie) Berea, Brothers George (Betty) Brook Park, Larry , Hurst, TX, sister Elaine Murphy, San Jose, Ca., as well as nine grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, with 2 more expected late summer. The family will receive friends at 401 E. John Street, Maumee, Ohio, where he most recently lived, on July 24, 2-4pm. There will be a Celebration of Life July 31st at the Olmsted Falls Fire Department, 9274 Columbia Rd, 44138, at 10am. Donations can be made to All Saints Lutheran Church, Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Olmsted Falls, Fire Department, Odyssey Hospice, Maumee, Ohio or for a Memorial Garden to be built at the family retreat. Funeral Home: Neidecker-LeVeck & Crosser Funeral Home - Peninsula Chapel 7755 East Harbor Road Lakeside-Marblehead, OH US 43440