THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY KASUNIC, BLAKE, BOSCOLA, BREWSTER, COSTA, DINNIMAN, FARNESE, FERLO, FONTANA, HUGHES, KITCHEN, LEACH, SCHWANK, SOLOBAY, STACK, TARTAGLIONE, WASHINGTON, WILLIAMS, WOZNIAK, YUDICHAK, ALLOWAY, ARGALL, BAKER, BROWNE, BRUBAKER, CORMAN, EARLL, EICHELBERGER, ERICKSON, FOLMER, GORDNER, GREENLEAF, McILHINNEY, MENSCH, PICCOLA, PILEGGI, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, ROBBINS, SCARNATI, SMUCKER, TOMLINSON, VANCE, VOGEL, WARD, WAUGH, D. WHITE, M. WHITE AND YAW, JUNE 18, 2012

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JUNE 18, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life of former State Senator Thomas J. Kalman and

extending condolences to his family.

WHEREAS, Thomas J. Kalman, husband, father and grandfather,

military hero, accomplished businessman, public servant and

philanthropist, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kalman was born December 21, 1917, in

Perryopolis; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kalman was a graduate of the University of Notre

Dame, Class of 1939, the University of Pennsylvania School of

Law, the Officers War College in Norfolk, Virginia, and the

Naval War College in Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kalman served his country proudly as a Navy

officer in World War II, participating in the invasions of

Sicily and Northern Africa and also serving in the Western Sea

Frontier; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kalman retired as a Senior Captain and remained

active in military affairs as a member of the Retired Officers

Association and in the following organizations: the Knights of

Columbus, The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and

the Catholic War Veterans; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kalman established a law firm in Uniontown and

was a practicing attorney and member of the Pennsylvania Bar

Association for more than 60 years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kalman established and supported numerous

successful businesses; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kalman served in the Pennsylvania State

Legislature as Senator from 1957 to 1970 and as Chief Clerk of

the Senate from 1971 to 1980; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kalman was appointed by former President Ford

and former President Carter to serve on presidential advisory

commissions; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kalman was active in the Catholic Church; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kalman served as a board member at the Institute

for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, Mr. Kalman received the distinguished honor

of being inducted as a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the

Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, the only lay institution of the

Vatican State charged with the task of providing for the needs

of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and for all the

activities and initiatives which are necessary to support the

Christian presence in the Holy Land; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kalman spent his last years surrounded by those

he loved and those who loved him, enjoying a Notre Dame football

game on an autumn afternoon, a good meal with beloved friends

and joyful family gatherings; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kalman is survived by his loving and devoted

wife, Donna Forrai Kalman; his cherished daughters, Mary Ann

Kalman of Uniontown and Maureen Volker and her husband Michael

of Collegeville; his sister, Mary Catherine Griglak and her

husband Laddie; his stepsons, James Forrai and his wife Kristy,

Edward Forrai and his wife Sonya and Steven Forrai and his wife

Julie; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and

nieces and nephews; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate honor the life of former Senator

Thomas J. Kalman, express its sadness upon the passing of its

former colleague and offer its condolences to his wife,

children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and

nephews; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

his widow, Donna Kalman.