Albany
Calvin Hubert Francisco, 85, passed away gracefully Wednesday October 8, 2008 at Albany Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.
His hobby of collecting and sharing one liners with others was called CALSEZ! "It takes both rain and sunshine to make a rainbow."
He was born in Cooks Falls, NY June 21, 1923, the son of the late Luther and Dorothy (Clum) Francisco. He graduated from Roscoe Central High School 1941 and attended Joe Stripp's baseball school that same year. Calvin was employed by Scintila Bendix Corporation in Sydny, NY before entering the Army Air Corps in 1942. He married his high school sweetheart, Elida Mae Hesse, January 27, 1944 and served as a radio operator in Panama from 1945-1946. After leaving the service, he enrolled at Ithaca College and graduate with his BS in 1949. Calvin then earned his Master's degree in Education from Cortland State Teachers College in 1951 and continued graduate work at Oneonta and Plattsburgh State Teachers College. His teaching career began as a 6th grade teacher in St. Johnsville, NY in 1949 and became and Elementary school principal in 1954. While living in St. Johnsville, he was president of St. Johnsville Community Chest Drives, Chairman of Boy Scouts Committee, member of #106 F & AM Masonic Lodge, he established and operated youth program for children three evenings a week and organized and chaired Operation Advance with Cornell University. As a village leader, he developed new techniques for individual rolls, he was a member of St. Johnsville Reformed Church as a both Deacon and Elder and was president and Bulletin editor for St. Johnsville Rotary Club.
Cal and his family moved to south Colonie in 1965 where he became Principal of Roessleville Elementary School. He joined the Community Reformed Church of Colonie and helped to establish their Day Care program.
His greatest love was baseball. Cal played 4 years in high school, played with an Army team in Panama (teammates Terry Moores & Steve Bilko of St. Louis Cardinals) and played at Ithaca College for the famous "Bucky" Freeman. He managed and played on the Saints baseball team of the Mohawk Valley League, played and pitched in the Guilderland softball league, winning his last game at age 70 and umpired until he was 76.
While principal of Roessleville, Cal was selected as chairman of the Elementary Principal Association of the Eastern Zone. He was a 30 year member of Albany Colonie Kiwanis Club and president 1972-1973, awarded Life membership in PTA, volunteered with Albany International Airport as an Ambassador and Schenectady City Mission and coordinated Men's Saturday AM church study group.
Cal is survived by his loving wife Elida Mae "Fran", his daughter Dawn and son Dale, his grandchildren; Kimberly, Jason, Gillian, Melissa, Casey and 7 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister Roberta Pinti and brother Norman Fancisco.
A Memorial service will be held 11:00am Monday October 13, 2008 at the Community Reformed Church of Colonie, 701 Sandcreek Rd., Colonie, 12205 Interment will be private at the convenience of the family. Memorial Contributions may be made to Community Reformed Church of Colonie. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.NewcomerAlbany.com