Evangeline Caliandro

On the morning of Wednesday, April 23, Evangeline Caliandro, age 93, left us to be with the Lord. She was born to Anthony and Dorothy (Donaldson) Caliandro on November 24, 1931, and grew up in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. She spent summers with her mother and sisters at Cedar Lake in New Jersey with many of the Donaldson clan in cabins scattered around the lake; in later life, young family members would shout with excitement when they saw her rowboat moving smoothly across the water and knew they would soon get a visit. In keeping with family tradition, Van graduated with a plan to teach from the New Jersey College for Women (now Rutgers University-Douglass College) in 1952—where she was known for dashing around campus on her bike, singing with the Weepies, and swimming with the Nereids. She first taught music and later became an English as a second language teacher at Bronx Community College, teaching students from all over the world and in Egypt in the 1960s. She loved Japan and visiting former students, especially Hiroshi Yokota and the Itakura family.

Living in New York City with her beloved tuxedo cats Saki and Sheba, she took full advantage of the myriad cultural offerings: the museums, arts, theater, and music—she had a subscription to the NY Philharmonic Orchestra at Lincoln Center and often invited friends to attend the rehearsals with her. After retiring in 1995, she had more time for the great outdoors which she cherished: traveling the world, cross-country skiing, kayaking, and visiting her sisters in Florida and Maine. One special trip was to Florence to visit her great-niece Megan studying there and to learn more about her Italian heritage. The friends she made through camp outings at Harriman State Park—driving other New Yorkers there until she was 90!—and locally in the BAIP Walking Group were very dear to her, as were the times they met up at the Metro Diner at Broadway and W 100th Street, just around the corner from where she lived, where so many who worked and ate there greeted her by name.

Evangeline is preceded in death by her mother Dorothy and father Anthony; her sisters Dorothy and Marietta; half-brother Victor Caliandro; and her nephew Bruce Wohlleb. She is survived by her niece Dede Roberts and great nieces Megan Roberts Rodenberg (Todd) and Morgan Roberts Caldwell (Maclain); niece-in-law Cindy Wohlleb (Bruce), two great nephews, Casey James Wohlleb (Brooke) and Colby Alan Wohlleb; her sister-in-law Maria Caliandro; and many great nieces and nephews; first cousin Robert H. Donaldson and many first cousins once-removed, including Mary Caliandro and Kara Donaldson, with whose family she spent many lovely days and happy Thanksgivings—always bringing her signature cranberry relish.