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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 192
BY REPRESENTATIVE SIMON AND SENATOR HEITMEIER
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Peter J. Calamari III, former
deputy assistant secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals',
office of behavioral health, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Legislature of Louisiana learned of the death of Peter J. Calamari III on Saturday, April 28,
2012, at the age of seventy years; and
WHEREAS, on August 2, 1941, Peter J. Calamari III was born in New Orleans,
Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, he was a graduate of Holy Cross High School in New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari graduated from the University of Notre Dame, then
attended and graduated from Notre Dame Seminary; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari was ordained a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of
New Orleans and served in various church parishes from 1968 to 1981; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari continued his dedication to others by developing and
founding the Discovery Early Childhood Development Program in 1984, which provided
high quality early childhood experiences for young children until 2004; and
WHEREAS, at the same time, he embarked on his thirty-year civil service career
with Louisiana's office for citizens with developmental disabilities, first at the Metropolitan
Development Center in Belle Chase, then as administrator at the Hammond Developmental
Center, and finally as the deputy assistant secretary for the office for citizens with
developmental disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari had a passion for serving all people, but the vulnerable
were those he remembered first; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 192
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WHEREAS, his work and personal sacrifices impacted the lives of tens of thousands
of individuals; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari brought his talents to help lead the consolidation of the
office of addictive disorders and the office of mental health into the newly created office of
behavioral health; and
WHEREAS, in his role as deputy assistant secretary of the office of behavioral
health, he helped shape a historic transformation in behavioral health care for all residents
of the state; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of his thirty years of selfless service to the citizens of
Louisiana, he was nominated for and received the Charles E. Dunbar, Jr. Career Service
Award in 2011; and
WHEREAS, those who nominated Mr. Calamari for the award said, "There are
dreamers and doers, but Mr. Calamari has demonstrated that he is one of the few exceptional
people who encompass both of these roles. He is a visionary with a meticulous plan tucked
firmly under his arm"; and
WHEREAS, in addition to his many professional achievements, Mr. Calamari was
a devoted family man and a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari was preceded in death by his parents, Ruby Ann and Peter
J. Calamari, Jr.; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his beloved wife, Catherine Ann Sage Calamari,
mother of Gloria L. Francois, James T. Molinario, Jr., Bruce P. Molinario, June M. Lemoine,
Karen T. Molinario, and Gregg C. Molinario; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari was a grandfather of fifteen grandchildren and nine great-
grandchildren, brother of Michael P. Calamari and Paul D. Calamari, uncle of Michael P.
Calamari, Jr., Suzanne C. Ledet, Katherine C. Cobb, Victoria C. Lombard, Peter J. Calamari
IV, and he had six grandnieces and grandnephews; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari is profoundly missed for his remarkable leadership, his
brilliant intellect, and all of the incomparable talents that he lent to his fellow citizens; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari's loyalty and dedication to his profession and his
coworkers were inspiring and unwavering; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 192
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WHEREAS, Mr. Calamari represented all that is good about Louisiana as a man with
unique gifts and a charitable spirit who shared his abilities with his community, state, and
nation, and he is terribly missed but will never be forgotten.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Peter J. Calamari III, former
deputy assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, office of behavioral
health, and does hereby recognize that the life and work of this exceptional gentleman will
forever be a source of deep pride and honor for the city of New Orleans, the state of
Louisiana, and the United States of America.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the family of Peter J. Calamari III.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE