ELIOTT CALIG: "Gettin' old ain't for sissies," he would often say. It was by courage, strength, and determination to be with his family that Eliott, according to one of his doctors, outlived most MDS patients "by a country mile."
Eliott was born June 25, 1939 to parents Sam and Mabel Calig. He was the brother to Sandy Philips and the late Rhoda Mendelson Barovsky.
At eighteen, Eliott married his childhood sweetheart, the late (February 2016) Ellen Israel Calig, and together they raised their three children, Debbie (Kevin) Brode, Lynda (Greg) Theiler, and Jeff (Lauren) Calig. Eliott was Grandpa to Danny (Alyssa), Matthew (Hannah), Michael, and Andrew Brode; Sarah (Jordan ) Stich, and Rachel Theiler; Gillian (Steven ) Bold, and Ethan (Michaela) Calig. He was a very proud great-grandpa to eight great- grandchildren.
Before retiring, Eliott was a third generation owner of the Calig Steel Drum Company in McKees Rocks. He enjoyed clean cars, the outdoors (as long as it wasn't too hot or "buggy"), fishing and hunting at his cottage in Warren, Pa., horses, both jumping and racing, and traveling wherever he could to see and be among wildlife. Binoculars were kept on his desk for the occasional deer. His greatest pleasures however were his grandchildren and great- grandchildren, who he said were the reasons he woke up every morning, making his apartment a library of their pictures.
A special thank you to Dr. Agha and his team at the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers, Hillman Cancer Center. From the ladies who greeted us every Tuesday and Friday morning to the parking attendants in the valet service, the kindness of the staff always made a difference. A very special thank you to caregivers Annie, Kitty, and JJ. Your unwavering support and exceptional care allowed Dad to be in the place he loved the most: in his home, in his Lazy Boy chair, watching sports or "Netflick" on his 75" TV. Thanks also to the wonderful care from Bridges Hospice.
Per Eliott's wishes, Services will be Private. Donations in his memory may be made to the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers, Hillman Cancer Center, 515 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232.
Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. www.schugar.com
