Christopher M. Kalwara

Christopher M. Kalwara, 70, died Sunday after a long and valiant struggle with Parkinson's disease. Born in Syracuse, NY, on August 23, 1954, to Stanley and Bonita (Caraglin) Kalwara, Chris was a graduate of Marcellus Central High School. He then graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in education and then from the University of Texas with a chemical engineering degree. 

Chris married Karen (Laquidari), the love of his life. They had one child, Matthew, the shining star of his life. He was in a sense a renaissance man, having many varied interests and succeeded in mastering them. 

Chris was a well-liked member of the community. He was a top sales performer for Johnson Controls and was honored with the prestigious Masters Sales Award for numerous years.

 A member of the Skaneateles Sailing Club, he was an avid sailor, competing in many regattas. While he was vacationing in Cape Cod he would sail in the bays and around the islands. His love of sailing led him to donate his boat to the club for young aspiring sailors. Chris’s other athletic abilities included weightlifting, football, wrestling, swimming, skiing, and running. He ran competitively in long-distance races, both in Central New York and Cape Cod, running with his son and nephews. He maintained an active lifestyle and loved being outdoors. 

Chris was musically inclined, playing the saxophone in the Lyncourt Community Band. He played the saxophone in high school and again later in life. Chris’s musical interests also took him to New York City to visit many famous jazz clubs and theatre performances. With a love of history, he read numerous books on American history and would visit historical sites throughout the region and wherever they vacationed.

Chris’s pets were a comfort to him. Beginning with Bailey, a maltipoo, he then adopted Pippa and Eddie, a sibling pair of maltese. 

Chris learned the craft of woodworking from his father. He made furniture, replaced wood floors, and appreciated well-made furniture from all eras. When visiting New York, he could be found in the period rooms of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Another of Chris’s accomplishments was his culinary abilities. Whipping up a meal and dessert for 10 was no problem, as he demonstrated on multiple vacations. He was a master griller as well. 

Chris was known for his sense of humor. Always ready to put people at ease, his sense of humor paved the way for conversation. He was inquisitive, willing to listen, and quick with a funny and unexpected comeback. Chris was adored by his niece and nephews, and the feeling was reciprocated. Family was important, vacationing each year with his brothers’ and sisters’ families to Cape Cod. 

Surviving are his loving wife of 40 years, Karen; son, Matthew; brother, Joseph (Edith); sister, JeanMarie Easter; nephews, John, James, and Joseph Kalwara, and Luke and Jake Joseph; niece, Amanda Ure; and sister-in-law, Lorraine Joseph.

To celebrate Christopher’s life, relatives and friends are invited to gather on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Holy Family Church, 127 Chapel Dr., Syracuse. 

A funeral Mass will follow at 12:30 p.m. in the church.

Christopher will be laid to rest in Greenlawn Cemetery, Warners. A luncheon will follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105.