Peter Jermiah Calistri

 
On Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, Peter Jermiah Calistri, devoted husband and father of four children, passed away at age 90. Peter was born on March 30, 1931, in Charleroi to the late Jermia and Vera Calistri. Peter was raised in Charleroi. He graduated from St. Vincent’s High School in Latrobe in 1949. Peter served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955, and was stationed in Germany. Peter completed his bachelor of science from Columbia University. On Feb. 7, 1959, he married Theresa Kelsey and together they raised four children, Peter, Elizabeth, Marie and Matthew. Peter was a parishioner and usher at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Tenafly, N.J., for 38 years and in 2015 was awarded the legacy award along with his loving wife, Theresa. Throughout Peter’s career, he held various roles that preceded the advent of digitization. He was an engineer at Burrows Inc. in Rockleigh, N.J.; spent many years at TWA, where he led the team that automated flight plans; and finished his career at AT&T as a pioneer in packet switching, the technology that evolved to modern-day email and internet traffic. Peter relished many hobbies and activities. As a youth, he was an amateur painter and upon retiring later in life, he resumed that passion using watercolors — the walls of his children’s homes are proudly adorned with his numerous works. His international experience in the Army ignited a love for travel, which he and Theresa shared for their long marriage. Their favorite destinations included Italy, France and Germany, and their home was filled with mementos from many trips overseas. Peter was best known for his love for food, cooking and entertaining. Instead of using recipes, he preferred to search for delicious meals by dining at fine restaurants throughout the world and then returning home to recreate the dishes he had enjoyed. By using his imagination and intuition he would somehow make the meal better than the original — and was always eager to share his delicacies in a warm home full of hungry guests. He particularly developed a cult following for his homemade biscotti cookies, which he sold to local boutique stores and frequently sent to family and friends as a cherished gift. Most recently, Peter resided at Seabrook Senior Living Community in Tinton Falls, N.J., where he was on the residents advisory council. Peter was preceded in death by his father, Jermia; his mother, Vera; his wife, Theresa; his daughter, Elizabeth; and his granddaughter, Victoria. He is survived by three of his children, Peter, Marie and Matthew; and 11 grandchildren, Alexandra, Nicholas, Olivia, Matthew, John, Katherine, Kelsey, Ella, Peter, Robert and Annellyse. A viewing will be held from 10 to 11:45 a.m. Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, at BARRETT LEBER FUNERAL HOME at 148 Dean Drive, Tenafly, N.J. A memorial Mass will be held at noon Monday, Dec. 20, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church at 10 Country Road, Tenafly, N.J. Condolences at barrettleberfuneralhome.com.