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Louis Caldarelli, R.I.P.
Father of our classmates Eileen, '65 and Annette, '69.



Louis Caldarelli, 92, long-time Fullerton resident, chemical engineer and musician, passed away peacefully March 4 at his home, surrounded by family and friends.

Born in Raton, NM in 1925, youngest son of Settimio and Maria (Benedetti) Caldarelli from Spoleto, Italy, Louis graduated from Purdue University and served in the US Army during WWII as an engineer with The Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, NM. After working for Firestone in PA, Congoleum-Nairn in NJ, and 3M Company in LA, Louis co-founded Coral Industries Inc., Santa Fe Springs, serving as owner/President/CEO for over 45 years. One of Coral Industries' long-standing business relationships has been with the annual Pasadena Parade of Roses, where the company's adhesives are used exclusively in all float construction. 

Louis was also a highly-respected, much-loved saxophone/ woodwind musician and band arranger who played in private and public events in the Southern California area, including Disneyland, and who helped co-found the Society for Preservation of Big Bands. He was a member of St. Mary's Church in Fullerton, MENSA, American Chemical Society, SFS Chamber of Commerce, and Musicians' Local #7.

Louis is survived by his loving wife of nearly 70 years, Irene (Lazar) Caldarelli; daughter, Eileen Caldarelli of Irvine, retired teacher at Sunkist Elementary School in Anaheim; and daughter, Annette C. Abbott of Darien, CT and NYC, songwriter/musician and former executive at Hunt-Wesson Foods in Fullerton. He is also survived by two younger sisters, Lorraine Buttram of Raton, NM and Jeanne Ferrell of Austin, TX; and by grandchildren, Marika Abbott of Brooklyn, NY, and Karlin and Ellany Abbott of Darien, CT.

Services for Louis Caldarelli were held in private. We ask that donations in Louis' memory be made to fendermusicfoundation.org in support of music education in the schools. McAulay & Wallace Mortuary

 

Published in Orange County Register on Mar. 26, 2015.

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