Armand Calande

Armand Richard ("Cal" or "Dick") Calande, died peacefully at home on September 30, 2016, at age 88. Born December 27, 1927, to Blandine and Ernest Calande of West Warwick, Rhode Island, he was the second of six children. Cal attended high school at the Marist Brothers St. Joseph's Juniorate in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. After graduating in 1944, Cal joined the U.S. Navy during World World II and was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. After his Navy service, Cal joined the then-newly formed U.S. Air Force in 1949, and became an aerospace instrumentation technician, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1966. During his career in the Air Force and later in the aerospace industry, Cal traveled the world and worked on several notable projects, including the U-2 spy plane, SR-71 Blackbird, B-1 and B-2 bombers, Space Shuttle, Lockheed's storied "Skunkworks" in Burbank, California and Nevada's legendary Area 51.

While serving in the military in Panama, Cal became the "pen friend" of Helen Gabriel Meenan, an Irish girl who had recently arrived in his hometown of West Warwick, RI from Derry, Northern Ireland. Their correspondence led to marriage in 1952 and a family of five children. After his military service Cal settled with his family in Lancaster, where he and Helen lived for over 50 years. He was a long time parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lancaster, and was also a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, the loyal Order of the Moose, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legions. Throughout his life, Cal loved fishing, crossword puzzles, old cars, televised wrestling and music, especially classical, opera and Country Western. In retirement, Cal and Helen divided their time between their home in Lancaster and their homes in Twin Lakes, California and Falcarragh, Donegal Ireland.

Cal is survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen, his children Bryan Calande of Bakersfield, California, Denise (Ron) Kariger of Quartz Hill, California, Richard (Barbara Kivisto) Calande of Palmdale, California and Pauline (the late John) Calande Braswell of Alexandria, Virginia; grandchildren Amy and Theresa Kariger, and great-grandchild Alex Kariger, all of Quartz Hill, California. He is also survived by his brothers Gerald (Barbara D'Amato) Calande of Coventry, Rhode Island, and Ernest (Meg) Calande of Ellenton, Florida, as well as his sister Jeannine (Phillip) Holmen of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, sister in law Shirley (the late Roger) Calande of Coventry, Rhode Island and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. Cal was preceded in death by his son Michael, his parents, Blandine and Ernest Calande, and his brothers Paul and Roger Calande.