Thalia M. Calmar

Thalia Moschos Calmar, of Middlebury, CT passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on December 6, 2022 at Lahey Hospital, Burlington, Massachusetts. 

Thalia was born in Worcester, MA to Vasiliky Strates and Constantine Moschos. She was the first born of six children. Her father was a Hotelier and Restaurateur who owned the Coronado Hotel, at 74 Franklin Street in Worcester, MA and later in life started the franchise Friendly Farms Restaurant in Leominster, MA.  Thalia graduated Classical High School, Worcester, MA, and Brown University. After graduating from Brown, she moved to Boston to train as a buyer for Filene’s Department Store. While living in Boston, she met her future husband Emanuel (Mike) Calmar, and shortly thereafter, they were married at the Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, built under the chairmanship of her father. Their wedding celebration took place at her father’s hotel. After spending their honeymoon in Bermuda, they moved to Connecticut to settle down and raise a family.  Newly married, Thalia taught elementary school in Bristol CT. She left her teaching position in Bristol to devote herself to raising their first-born son. Thalia and Mike had four children together. Unfortunately, this happy marriage of 15 years abruptly ended when Mike was tragically killed in a car accident.  Strong and intelligent, Thalia survived this tragedy, earning her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Fairfield. She went on to become a professional educator in the Waterbury Public School system working as a sixth-grade teacher and teaching Vice Principal for many years to come.  In addition to education, the Cultural Arts were very important to Thalia, and she instilled these values by exposing her children and all she encountered to theatre, classical music, art and science museums, as well as historic sites and homes. One of her favorite pastimes was frequenting the Long Wharf Theatre with two close friends and discussing the play afterwards with dinner. Outside of Thalia’s professional career, she served on many volunteer committees, including the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, the Mattatuck Museum, the Women’s League of Waterbury, and her favorite organization, Literacy Volunteers of Greater Waterbury as president and board member.  From a very young age, Thalia was a passionate reader. She was a frequent visitor at the Middlebury Public Library taking several books out at a time, and returning weekly for more.  When her children were young, Thalia, a talented pianist, enjoyed playing classical music as her children played and listened to the beautiful music under her baby grand. She enjoyed talking politics, discussing issues and winning family intellectual debates.  She was also a very competitive board game player who hated to lose, and had no problem entertaining herself with her favorite card game, Solitaire. Thalia loved shopping and had a great eye for fashion, jewelry and interior design.  But it will be Thalia’s Thanksgiving holiday dinner she prepared for her family every year for which she will be most remembered.  Her warm and inviting table, was elegantly decorated with her curated, handcrafted entrees, side dishes, appetizers and more.

Thalia leaves two daughters, Leigh Ellen Perrelli (Steve) of Wolcott, CT, and Dr. Elizabeth Calmar (Dr. George Kasparyan) of Southborough, MA, and a son Charles Calmar of Waterbury, CT.  Thalia is predeceased by her first-born son, The Honorable Harry E. Calmar of Stonington CT, his wife Martha, and their beautiful child Isabelle, one of her adored grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by her other cherished grandchildren, E. Harry, Margot, Catherine, Henry, Andrew, James and George. Thalia is survived by her loving and devoted brothers, Demitri Moschos (Celeste), and Michael (Sue) Moschos, and loving nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her sister Iphigenia “Genie” (Chris) Rigopulos, her sister, Galatea “Lolly” (Arthur) Lewry, and her brother Thomas (Sophia) Moschos. 

A private funeral service will be held at Sts. Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church in Marlborough, MA, and private burial will take place in Stonington, CT. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either the Sts. Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church, https://www.stsanargyroi.org/ or the Literacy Volunteers of Greater Waterbury, CT, https://www.lvgwct.org/ .  All are invited to sign Thalia’s online guestbook at www.collinsfuneral.com.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction  of the Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough, MA.