Manuel O. Calderon

Manuel O. Calderon died May 2. He was 98.

Calderon was born and raised in Stockton, California. Upon high school graduation he joined the U.S. Army Air Corp where he qualified as an officer and pilot. In 1945 he became a U.S. Army Air Corp instructor. He transferred to Luke U.S. Air Force base in Arizona in 1947 where he received commercial pilot and multi-engine ratings. Thereafter he entered the Reserves, continued his advanced education, got married in 1949, and worked as a draftsman in the aerospace industry in Southern California. Calderon was honorably discharged from the military in 1963. He joined Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in 1957. He began his career as a designer working in energy magnetic confinement development. He earned a reclassification as an engineer in 1966 and retired from LLNL in the mid 1990’s.

Calderon is survived by his wife Mary Louise and their 5 children: Paul [ JC] Calderon of Castro Valley, Stephen [Delfina] Calderon of Livermore, Mona [Steven] Peglow of Virginia, Norma Zablocki of San Ramon, and Linda [Bradley] Clouser of Pleasanton. Grandchildren include David Calderon, Elisa [Todd] Piper and great-grandchildren [Dominic and Joseph] of Citrus Heights, Denise [Sandeep] Abraham of Mission San Jose, Joshua Zablocki of Pleasanton, Sarah [Guillermo] Madrigal of Austin, Texas, and Jacob Clouser of Pleasanton. He is also survived by a brother Richard [Mary] Calderon and their 4 children. He is preceded in death by his parents, Juan and Lola Calderon, sister Margarita, brothers John and William, nephew Alex Calderon and grandson John Gilbert Peglow.  

The vigil service will be held on Saturday, May 13 at 6 p.m. at Graham Hitch Mortuary, 4167 First St., Pleasanton. Mass of Christian burial is Monday, May 15 at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 3999 Bernal Ave, Pleasanton. The family will host a reception at the church hall immediately following the funeral. Interment will be private at the St. Augustine Cemetery in Pleasanton.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Catholic Community of Pleasanton (https://www.catholicsofpleasanton.org/)