The Western Reserve Section lost a valued member when Al Calandra passed away recently. Al and his wife Lea became section members in September 1961 when they were the proud owners of a 219 sedan. Both Al and Lea were very active in the early years of our section, serving as officers and board members, helping to organize section activities, growing membership, and bringing fun and entertainment to our events. Several members who knew Al and Lea well have offered remembrances.
Ted Gottfried writes:
In November 1983-more than 26 years ago- I moved to Hudson from Wiesloch, Germany. Because I had a 1966 230SL, I knew about the Mercedes Pagoda Club in Germany. Since Geller Mercedes-Benz was literally right across Market Street from Goodyear World Headquarters where I had worked since 1964, it was quite convenient to go there and ask about the Mercedes Club.
As it turned out Al Calandra had been there at Geller’s the previous day passing out invitations to a club event to be held at Koepke Motors in Lakewood that very same evening.
After work that cold snowy afternoon in early November 1983 I collected my wife Brigitte and our two children at the Holiday Inn in Hudson where we lived for more than 3 months while our furniture was en route from Germany and drove up to Koepke Motors completely cold, both literally and figuratively.
When we arrived, Al Calandra met us warmly at the door and made us feel very welcome. Al was a great recruiter and both he and his wife Lea helped Brigitte and me become active members that continues to this very day. That first evening was proof that “you never get a second chance to make a first impression”. Al did a great job.
Over the years Al continued to be a strong club member relating many tales of earlier activities of the club. I especially enjoyed learning about the gradual emphasis of the club changing from one that expanded from mainly men appreciating the technical aspects of Mercedes cars to include the diversivied activities that we enjoy today.
Al was a great catalyst to make things happen and I will miss him sincerely.
From Dick Gortz:
Al and Lea were some of the most enthusiastic members the club has ever had. They lived their lives like that. Nearly every month, until he was infirm, Al would mail me a copy of an old newsletter showing some of the events he and Lea put on. Great guy who loved life. His life wasn’t the same after Lea passed. One can only hope that they are a team again
From Pete Lesler:
I first met Al and his wife Lea at one of the very first MBCA meetings I attended. I think it was in 1980 or 1981. Al, by then, was a member since 1960. Although not a charter member of the then Cleveland Section of MBCA, he became one of the first members shortly after he purchased his first Mercedes-Benz, a 1959 219.
Al took me aside and mentored me immediately at that very first meeting we attended. He encouraged me to get involved with the local Section. I took him for his word and attended a board meeting a few months later. I left the meeting with the title and responsibility as section secretary and newsletter editor. That’s how I got started. But without Al’s encouragement, who knows if I would have followed the same path?
Al and Lea were always encouraging people to be involved and have fun. Al for many years was our single largest recruiter. Not only did he recruit, he and his wife oftentimes brought new members to their first events. Once he got you involved you mostly stayed involved.
Al was a sweet man. I don’t know how else to describe him. He was always extremely generous of his time and always at the ready to help in any way he could. He had time for anyone and everyone he met along the way.
He and Lea had a great sense of humor. They could recount tales of the early days of the Cleveland section and always find the humor in their experiences and not any negative thoughts. The only thing I remember that one could say was less than positive was Al’s experience with his first 1959 219. He had lots of problems with that car but he loved its style and engineering and remained true to the marque right up to his last days. He still managed to find some humor in his stories about that car which I remember to this day. Josie and I will greatly miss Al, just as we have his wife Lea, who pre-deceased him. He was a friend to all.
Our condolences to the Calandra family. Pete & Josie Lesler, Morgan Taft, and Gary Goodman represented the section at Al’s memorial service.