Richard J. Caloggero, administrative officer in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science since 1972 and an MIT employee since 1957, died September 13 after struggling with cancer for the past nine months. He was 61.
"Dick's sensitive administration for the past 23 years has given us stability, fostered good working relationships among all department personnel and helped us maintain a high esprit de corps," Professor Paul Penfield Jr., department head, said in a letter to the EECS community. Praising Mr. Caloggero's courage and devotion, Professor Penfield said: "From home and hospital, in the middle of medical treatments that used up his time and sapped his energy, he continued to lead our administrative staff. He saw to it that all the required tasks were completed on time. He never let his own troubles become a burden for others, nor did he ever lose his basic enthusiasm and optimism. His example of how to deal with life's difficulties is one that we are all learning from. We will miss him very much."
A new award in Mr. Caloggero's name has been established by some of his friends to recognize EECS employees who have, over an extended period of service, shown loyalty, dedication and effectiveness beyond normal expectations. "There is no one whose career exemplifies these characteristics better than Dick's," Professor Penfield's letter said.
Mr. Caloggero joined MIT on May 1, 1957, as a technician at the Draper Laboratory, then part of the Institute. He became an administrative assistant at Draper in 1964, worked briefly for the Planning Office starting in 1968, and joined the EECS department in 1972.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth (Sussmilch) Caloggero, three sons, two daughters and a sister.
A memorial service was held September 16.
Mr. and Mrs. Caloggero lived in Londonderry, NH. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, New Hampshire Affiliate, c/o Madeline Saulnier, 81 Litchfield Road, Londonderry, NH 03053.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on September 20, 1995.
