Senior Chief Petty Officer (Retired) Maurizio Salvatore Calabrese, BRAZIL, IN

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Senior Chief Petty Officer (Retired) Maurizio Salvatore Calabrese, 73, passed away on Sunday, January 28th, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Verona, Italy on August 25th, 1950, to Lorenzo Calabrese and Maria Spinato, immigrating to the United States at age 18.

He was the founder of Maurizio’s Pizza in Brazil, Indiana before deciding on pursuing a career in the U.S. Navy.

He spent 22 years in the Navy with assignments in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Florida, and Italy while visiting several ports of call along the way. He was most proud of his time on the SIXTH FLEET Flagship USS Puget Sound (AD-38), spending time in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983 during US peacekeeping operations. He also served aboard the USS Grapple, USS Kitty Hawk, USS Coronado, and USS Belknap. He performed shore duty as the aide-de-camp for the Commander of Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). His career culminated as the aide-de-camp to the Commander of the US Naval Air Force, US Pacific Fleet at Naval Air Station North Island, retiring in 1998.

Maurizio, or Mario as his friends called him in the Navy, enjoyed good music, good food, and good dancing. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Anna Simonelli, sisters Aurora (Charles) Walker and Roberta (Mike) Driver; children, Brigadier General Maurizio “Mo” Calabrese (Teryn Rozales), US Air Force and Kelly (Dan) Stone; step-children Laura Sconosciuto and Arnaldo Bartolomei; grandchildren Taylor, Hailey, Ethan, Solana, Madilyn, Marcus, and Rawley; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and step-son, Fabio Bartolomei.

Visitation will be held at French Funeral Home, 421 E. National Ave. Brazil, Indiana, on Friday, February 2, 2024 from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM with services following at 5:00 PM. Maurizio will be transported to San Diego for burial at sea, by the US Navy, in accordance with his wishes.