Annual BBQ : A Time for Reflection, Remembrance, and Joy
Since joining the chorus in the fall of 2021, my memories of this summertime event have been tinged with a mixture of nostalgia and joy. That is perhaps because, for the past three BBQs in 2023, 2024, and 2025, we had solicited donations to commemorate members who had respectively passed away in each of those years: Dick “Super Bari” Johnston (who sang 52 years with the BHS !); William Donald “Don” Gillespie, first director of the Saints and the last of the original charter members who founded the chorus in 1960 to pass away; and this year, Luigi Calderisi, former Treasurer of the Board and arguably the most beloved member of the chorus.
A Long-standing Tradition
Despite having participated in this event only thrice, I would not be surprised to find that this practice of paying respect to (former) members having recently passed away, by remembering and celebrating their lives, has been a long-standing tradition. There is something to be said about such purposeful gatherings, to reflect upon and express our appreciation for those who have come before us. Cathie Gillespie, wife of Don Gillespie and our guest of honour in 2024, generously shared her thoughts and feelings on the matter in response to a recent notice I posted for our event this year :
“This beautiful chapter will celebrate Luigi and honour him like no other. This beautiful tradition of celebrating a former member that has passed just shows you how kind, caring and amazing The South Shore Saints are. They honoured my husband last year and it brought such comfort to me and I absolutely loved meeting and speaking to each and every one of you.”
A Festive Occasion
A few weeks earlier, the chorus had cancelled its first Spaghetti Supper owing to unforeseen circumstances. So, it was a great joy on this bright and sunny day, June 18, 2025, to see so many friends and family members streaming in and filling up the seats, requiring us to find extra chairs to accommodate late-arriving guests.
As always, I marvelled at how each chorus member pitched in spontaneously as soon as they arrived, whether by setting up tables, audio equipment, or bar; collecting tickets or selling 50/50 tickets; working the grill; serving drinks; or contributing home-made salads, appetizers, dishes or desserts.
I had the special honour of presenting Luigi's family with a personally drafted portrait. I felt a compulsion to do so because, when I had heard of Luigi’s sudden passing in January, I was travelling abroad and had been unable to sing at his service. In the end, I felt great joy to have the opportunity to pay respect to a kindred soul, with whom I was blessed to sing every Wednesday during the short time we spent together.
Finally, as both the quartets and the chorus sang their songs, it was wonderful to feel the vibrant energy and hear the applause of everyone in the hall, seemingly channelling the energy of Luigi when he had excitedly introduced his favorite song, STARDUST, at our annual concert in 2024.
A Family Man
Luigi cared deeply about his family. As our former president Guy Filion mentioned in a recent post on our Facebook page shortly before the event (revised or added quotes shown in brackets) :
“Our dear friend and fellow singer Luigi Calderisi left us early last January, surrounded by members of SA FAMIGLIA. If you attended the South Shore Saints Choral annual concerts in 2022, 2023 and 2024, you may have noticed this personal announcement from Luigi in the show [program]. He cared about his family, that's for sure!”
Providing context to the times and circumstances in which Luigi grew up and characterizing the man he eventually became, Guy continued :
“Born in Montreal 88 years ago, Luigi, [as] a child, had experienced the hardships of World War II. He wanted to remind us that one of his uncles was of Italian origin before he was imprisoned in St. Helene Island for several months. Italy was then an "enemy" of Canada.
Luigi loved singing a cappella, red wine, friends, discussions, and [the famous blueberry pie of his forever spouse], Céline, who we warmly welcome! He kept repeating that the most popular song in recent years was STARDUST. The chorus covered this piece with emotion at the funeral in Saint Bruno.
[Being a "no nonsense man"], Luigi would deliver his thought without blossoms, respectfully. He knew how to count, having been the manager of Birks Jewellery in the Maritimes for a long time; he was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Saint Lambert Municipal Golf and Curling Club; and most of all, Treasurer of the Board of our chorus.
Goodbye, Luigi. Please give a big hello to your friend Walter [a former member] and his wife Claire who were waiting for you up there. Your friends are always here... Alan, Benoit, Angus, and many others would love to hug you one last time. Thank you, Luigi. You will live in the great South Shore Saints FAMIGLIA forever !“
Comments
Post a Comment