Dr. Calarco

Dr. James F. Calarco, of Fredonia, NY, the former Director of Institutional Research & Planning at SUNY Fredonia, died Friday Sept. 13, 2013 at the age of 69. Born Sept. 27, 1943 in Dunkirk to the late James C. Calarco and Frances Manuel Calarco, James was raised in Fredonia. He was a graduate of Fredonia High School and a 1965 graduate of SUNY Fredonia. Dr. Calarco finished his Master''s Degree in Mathematics at the University of Maine and his Doctorate in Educational Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University. He held various teaching and administrative positions before being named to the mathematics faculty at Blinn College in Texas 1976. At the request of a Blinn College President and Executive Council, Dr. Calarco established the Office of Institutional Research there in 1989 and was named Director. Four years later, he expanded the office''s responsibilities to include institutional planning and effectiveness, an area which ultimately won special commendations from accrediting evaluators in 1994. As Director of Institutional Research & Planning at SUNY Fredonia, Dr. Calarco was charged with designing and maintaining a database to support assessment and planning, preparing and submitting mandated statistical files and reports to SUNY, creating statistical profiles on the campus and advising the President''s Cabinet in the development of five-year enrollment plans. He also prepared the annual College Fact Book and responded to data collecting inquiries from federal, state and private agencies. He served as a support unit for the Office of Campus Assessment. Dr. Calarco retired from SUNY Fredonia in 2010. He was Past President of the Texas Association for Institutional Research and was named a National Center for Educational Statistics Research Fellow by the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. Calarco is survived by his daughter, Sarah McCaghren; his sister, Joyce C. Kyle Brau of Brenham, TX; his uncle Joseph T. Calarco of Westfield, NY. Also survived by first cousin Joseph Carol Calarco of Fredonia, NY, several cousins, and caregiver and friend Silvana Bajdas. A Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Monday evening at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Funeral Mass is at 10 a.m Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 at St. Mary''s Catholic Church in Brenham. Interment will be in Texas. On-line condolences may be made at larsontimkofuneralhome.com. Arrangements by David J. Dengler, Larson-Timko Funeral Home, 679-9000.