HLS 12RS-5243 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 192
BY REPRESENTATIVE SIMON AND SENATOR HEITMEIER
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences upon the death of Peter J. Calamari III, former
deputy assistant secretary of the DHH, office of behavioral health
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Peter J. Calamari III, former2
deputy assistant secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals',3
office of behavioral health, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.4
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the5
Legislature of Louisiana learned of the death of Peter J. Calamari III on Saturday, April 28,6
2012, at the age of seventy years; and7
WHEREAS, on August 2, 1941, Peter J. Calamari III was born in New Orleans,8
Louisiana; and9
WHEREAS, he was a graduate of Holy Cross High School in New Orleans; and10
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari graduated from the University of Notre Dame, then11
attended and graduated from Notre Dame Seminary; and12
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari was ordained a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of13
New Orleans and served in various church parishes from 1968 to 1981; and14
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari continued his dedication to others by developing and15
founding the Discovery Early Childhood Development Program in 1984, which provided16
high quality early childhood experiences for young children until 2004; and17
WHEREAS, at the same time, he embarked on his thirty-year civil service career18
with Louisiana's office for citizens with developmental disabilities, first at the Metropolitan19
Development Center in Belle Chase, then as administrator at the Hammond Developmental20 HLS 12RS-5243 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 192
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Center, and finally as the deputy assistant secretary for the office for citizens with1
developmental disabilities; and2
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari had a passion for serving all people, but the vulnerable3
were those he remembered first; and4
WHEREAS, his work and personal sacrifices impacted the lives of tens of thousands5
of individuals; and6
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari brought his talents to help lead the consolidation of the7
office of addictive disorders and the office of mental health into the newly created office of8
behavioral health; and9
WHEREAS, in his role as deputy assistant secretary of the office of behavioral10
health, he helped shape a historic transformation in behavioral health care for all residents11
of the state; and12
WHEREAS, in recognition of his thirty years of selfless service to the citizens of13
Louisiana, he was nominated for and received the Charles E. Dunbar, Jr. Career Service14
Award in 2011; and15
WHEREAS, those who nominated Mr. Calamari for the award said, "There are16
dreamers and doers, but Mr. Calamari has demonstrated that he is one of the few exceptional17
people who encompass both of these roles. He is a visionary with a meticulous plan tucked18
firmly under his arm"; and19
WHEREAS, in addition to his many professional achievements, Mr. Calamari was20
a devoted family man and a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather; and21
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari was preceded in death by his parents, Ruby Ann and Peter22
J. Calamari, Jr.; and23
WHEREAS, he is survived by his beloved wife, Catherine Ann Sage Calamari,24
mother of Gloria L. Francois, James T. Molinario, Jr., Bruce P. Molinario, June M. Lemoine,25
Karen T. Molinario, and Gregg C. Molinario; and26
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari was a grandfather of fifteen grandchildren and nine great-27
grandchildren, brother of Michael P. Calamari and Paul D. Calamari, uncle of Michael P.28
Calamari, Jr., Suzanne C. Ledet, Katherine C. Cobb, Victoria C. Lombard, Peter J. Calamari29
IV, and he had six grandnieces and grandnephews; and30 HLS 12RS-5243 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari is profoundly missed for his remarkable leadership, his1
brilliant intellect, and all of the incomparable talents that he lent to his fellow citizens; and2
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari's loyalty and dedication to his profession and his3
coworkers were inspiring and unwavering; and4
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari represented all that is good about Louisiana as a man with5
unique gifts and a charitable spirit who shared his abilities with his community, state, and6
nation, and he is terribly missed but will never be forgotten.7
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby8
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Peter J. Calamari III, former9
deputy assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, office of behavioral10
health, and does hereby recognize that the life and work of this exceptional gentleman will11
forever be a source of deep pride and honor for the city of New Orleans, the state of12
Louisiana, and the United States of America.13
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted14
to the family of Peter J. Calamari III.15
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Simon HCR No. 192
Expresses the condolences of the legislature upon the death of Peter J. Calamari III, former
deputy assistant secretary of the office of behavioral health of the Dept. of Health and
Hospitals.