Obituary of Walter Kalman

Walter Kalman, 92, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 30, 2014 at JFK Medical Center in Edison. Walter was born on May 6, 1921 in New York City to Fritz & Olga Kalman. He grew up in New York where he attended DeWitt Clinton High School and graduated in 1941. As a child he spent enjoyable summers in Germany with family. A veteran of WWII, he enlisted in the Army on October 14, 1942. After his discharge, he graduated from the R.C.A. Electronics School and worked as a Technical Troubleshooter for Emerson Radio and TV in Jersey City for many years and then as a Supervisor for Audio/Visual Equipment for Boise in Plainfield. Walter was an organizer for the International Union of Electronic Workers, of which he was a member. Walter met his wife, Mary Rose McConnell, shortly after she immigrated to America from Ireland. Walter and Mary Rose married on June 30th, 1951. After the birth of their two children, Rosemarie and Walter, they lived in New York until the late 1950s before settling in South Plainfield. Walter quickly became a proud and active member of the local Democratic party. He was elected for many years as a county committeeman, an office in which he took great pride. Walter is widely respected by his colleagues in local government. He was also a Little League baseball coach and a League Director for the South Plainfield Junior Baseball club. In 1993 Walter lost his loving wife of 42 years. After retiring he continued in politics to fight for progressive causes from the environment to animal rights to helping the poor and disenfranchised. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and his best friend Natalie Bergen, taking walks through Spring Lake Park, and spending time with his beloved dogs. In addition to his wife, Walter was predeceased by his parents, Fritz and Olga Kalman. He is survived by his children, Walter and wife Alice, Rosemarie Pyott and husband Alan; his six grandchildren Allison, Meredith, Michelle, and Laquan Kalman, and Arthur and Daniel Pyott; and dear friend Natalie Bergen. A Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2014 from 9am - 11am in the McCriskin - Gustafson Home For Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Ave South Plainfield, NJ, 07080. Funeral services for the immediate family were private and interment was held at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to: The Citizens Campaign, 450 Main Street, Metuchen, NJ 08840 (www.thecitizenscampaign.org), or the NJ Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park, PO Box 3013, 132 Evergreen Road Edison, NJ 08818, attention C. Caratozzolo.