Friends reflect on educator's legacy

Hundreds of people whose lives were influenced by Guido Caldarazzo pay their respects

December 21, 2007

Like many people, Guido Caldarazzo was determined to make the world a better place for others. Unlike some, he succeeded.

Evidence of the hundreds of lives touched by Caldarazzo -- a longtime educator in the Salem-Keizer School District -- could be seen in the lines of vehicles that filled four streets around Queen of Peace Catholic Church in South Salem.

Caldarazzo died Sunday of natural causes at the family's home in Otter Rock on the Oregon Coast. He was 68.

Nearly 800 people, including students, attended a funeral Mass at the church Thursday to pay final respects to Caldarazzo, who had been principal of at least four area schools. The Mass was followed by a luncheon.

The service attracted friends, colleagues, teachers, coaches, former students and athletes, civic leaders and elected officials.

"What a treasure of a human being," Father Tim Mockaitis told mourners.

For Caldarazzo, it was always about others, it was never about himself, said Lara Tiffin, the principal of Judson Middle School.

"Guido was an ambassador for students," Tiffin said. "He often paid for fees for graduation gowns for kids who couldn't afford them."

During her speech, Tiffin joked about Caldarazzo being the only person she knew who kept coming out of retirement to take on more challenges in schools.

Both somber and celebratory, the service was filled with fellowship, music and sometimes laughter.

Standing at the church's podium, Scott DuFault recalled the day he went to the home of his then-boss to ask Caldarazzo for his daughter's hand in marriage.

"It took two pizzas and three-fourths of a Notre Dame football game for me to work up the courage to ask him if I could marry his daughter," DuFault said. The couple married soon after.

Others who shared their thoughts and memories referred to Caldarazzo as a peacemaker, godfather and great cook.

"But to me, he was just Gramps," said Zach DuFault, Caldarazzo's oldest grandchild.

The 17-year-old South Salem High School junior shared a special memory about his granddad.

"When I was in third grade, my mom wouldn't let me watch comedy movies like 'Animal House' because she said I wasn't ready to see them," Zach said. "One weekend, my grandpa took me to the beach, and he bought 'Animal House,' 'History of the World' and 'Spaceballs,' and we watched them over and over again.

"It was fun, and it was our little secret. To this day, my mom doesn't know."

For McKay High School principal Cynthia Richardson, Caldarazzo's highly personal and disciplined approach to education set a standard by which educators work to tap into students' potential as high achievers.

"He encouraged and supported everyone," Richardson said.

Donna Leopole, a bookkeeper at South Salem High School, remembered that Caldarazzo was the only principal she had ever worked for who wanted to know everything about her and her family.

"He was absolutely the best principal," Leopole said.

Gayle Caldarazzo was married to Guido Caldarazzo for almost 45 years.

The two met in Myrtle Point, where Gayle was a senior at the local high school and Guido was a new biology teacher.

"After I graduated high school, he called me and proposed to me," Gayle said. "He proposed without us ever even going out on a date."

She said she plans to continue the couple's work with United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley in his honor.

"Guido was a wonderful person," Gayle said. "I'll miss his support and his love. I'll miss the whole man."

Guido Caldarazzo

Age: 68

Born: Nov. 15, 1939, in Martinez, Calif.

Married: 44 years to Gayle

Children & spouses: Paul and Susan Caldarazzo; Scott and Anne Marie DuFault

Grandchildren: Zach, 17, Jordan, 15, and Jacob, 13 (DuFault); Anthony, 14, and Rachael, 11 (Caldarazzo)

In education for more than for 40 years

As a teacher he taught biology and social studies. He served as vice principal at McKay and Sprague high schools; served as principal at McKay and West Salem and South Salem high schools, Blanchet Catholic School in Salem and Taft High School in Lincoln City; and was athletic director at North Salem High School

Public Service: Facilitated committee that created the Methamphetamine Strike Force; member of the board of the Marion County Children and Families Commission; 2006 campaign co-chairperson for the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley.