Lenny Calderone remembered as beloved 'ambassador' of Vandergrift

Leonard Rocco “Lenny” Calderone, a Vandergrift native known for intense pride in his hometown, died on Sunday.

His sister, Elizabeth Calderone, said he died suddenly at home from a heart attack. He was 78.

While Calderone never held a position in local government, he was widely considered the unofficial ambassador of the borough.

“Small towns usually have lifelong residents who everyone knows and likes,” Vandergrift Councilwoman Marilee Kessler said. “Lenny was one of those guys.”

He even has a sandwich named in his honor. At Sweetlane Chocolate Shop on Grant Avenue, the “Lenny C. Burger” was whipped up after the news of his death spread through town.

“He came in here every day for two hours,” said Eric Mikula, who co-owns Sweetlane with his wife, Wanda. “He liked to drink coffee and relive the ‘golden days’ of historic Vandergrift.” Calderone had his own personalized coffee mug that hung above the soda fountain-style counter.

The Mikulas have retired his mug. It remained hanging on a hook Friday as customers spoke of Calderone’s legacy in Vandergrift.

Born and raised there, he was the son of Alice Delia and Tony Calderone. A 1960 graduate of the former Vandergrift High School, he enlisted in the Navy, serving as a corpsman at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

Apart from his time serving in the military, Calderone was a lifelong resident of Vandergrift.

“He loved being here, and he was a big supporter of anything that went on in the town,” said Elizabeth Calderone, of Mount Kisco, N.Y. “He especially loved the weekly spaghetti dinners sponsored by St. Gertrude Parish.”

He worked as a crane operator for Wean United for 20 years. He later co-owned the Golden Lounge and Motel in Leechburg for 11 years.

Elizabeth Calderone said her brother lived in the family home on Franklin Avenue that he maintained with “utmost fastidiousness.”

“In the summer months he loved nothing more than to cut his lawn, and then sit on his favorite sunning chair and take a nap,” she said. “He retained close childhood friends and they would stop by regularly for a chat and a drink of the guest’s choice.”

Vandergrift resident Kris Kunkle recalled Lenny’s love for Vandergrift.

“He helped everyone. He was proud of this little town, always picking up garbage and trying to keep the town clean,” Kunkle said. “He had more friends than anyone I know.”

Lenny was a sports car fan and was known for keeping a meticulously clean car.

“I hope he has the cleanest car in Heaven,” said Vandergrift Councilwoman Daisha Clayton. “He always greeted everyone with a warm smile and a big wave. He was a pillar of our community, and he will be sadly missed.”

Calderone never married or had children but considered Vandergrift his family. Locals could always spot him in the back pew at St. Gertrude Parish.

He often was spotted sitting on the front porch of his family home, located across the street from Kiski Area East Primary School, waving and conversing with anyone and everyone who passed by.

“We are going to miss him,” Kessler said. “He was one of the reasons our community is such a nice place to live.”

Calderone is survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Calderone and Phyllis Collins; by a brother, Anthony; and many nephews and nieces.

Visitation at Brady-Curran Funeral Home in Vandergrift will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:30 p.m. in St. Gertrude Roman Catholic Church. Following the Mass, military honors will be accorded by the Vandergrift Veteran’s Honor Guard.