In Memory
Kalvin SheldonWaxman
GRANGER - May 21, 1941 – July 11, 2022 Kalvin Sheldon Waxman, 81, passed away on July 11, 2022. Kalvin is loved and remembered by his devoted wife of 57 years, Bonnie Jill Pearson Waxman; his daughters, Alisa Waxman, Elayna (Marc) Rathmann, and son Joel (Tammy) Waxman and his six grandchildren: Tyler (Becca), Jacob andMeganWaxman (Jack Kennedy), and Sophie, Matthew and Gabriella Rathmann. He is survived by his uncle, ElliotWeinberg; and his sister, Diane Voight. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sol and MarionWaxman; and his brother, Irving “Butch” Waxman.
Kalvin was born onMay 21, 1941, to Sol andMarionWaxman, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up surrounded by loving parents, doting grandparents, and caring aunts and uncles. He assisted in the family grocery business.
Kal spent many formative summers at YMCA Camp Eberhart, in Three Rivers, Michigan. There he met the love of his life, his wife Bonnie. Kal was a camper and counselor under his mentor, George A. “Coop” Cooper, and went on to head various programs, serve as Assistant Camp Director and ultimately, Camp Director, during his 20+ years there. He and Bonnie continued to volunteer and support Camp EB through the Alumni Association activities.
Kal graduated fromAdamsHigh School, in South Bend, Indiana in 1959. Kal received his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and hisMasters Degree from Indiana University.
Kal began his teaching career at Culver Community High School, in Indiana, where he coached basketball, track and created a wrestling program. In the Fall of 1969, Kal moved to PennHarrisMadison School Corporation – he taught ninth grade Social Studies, then taught Senior Economics at until his retirement. He was recognized by JuniorAchievement ofMichiana on multiple occasions, as their Applied Economics Teacher of the Year. He was also a lifetime member of the National Education Association.
Kal coached Freshman wrestling at SchmuckerMiddle School from1969 to 1989, where his teams won over 80% of their dual meets plus numerous invitational tournaments. He was recognized by the PennWrestling program for 20 years of excellence. Kal also coached ninth grade track at Schmucker from 1969-1982, then transferred to Penn as an assistant Coach, where he served until 1989.
A funeral service will be held at theMcGannHay, Granger Chapel, 13260 SR 23 (enter off Cherry Rd.) on Thursday, July 14, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Visitation with the family is planned the hour prior to the service. A private burial will take place in Chicago atWestlawn Cemetery at approximately 1:30 p.m. Central Time.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made toYMCA Camp Eberhart, Logan Center, or Sinai Synagogue.
To send private condolences to the family, please visit www.McGannHay. com.
07/13/2022 EJS
Gary L Schlesinger (1963)
diane, i am sorry for your loss. my thoughts are with you. gary schlesinger.
James Michael Seedorf (1959)
From Adams HS and EB he is a good lifelong friend. We feel the loss with Bonnie and the family.
Violet Sando (Nace) (1959)
In the late 1950's at Adams, Kal was never shy, but always a leader and innovator in school. He was in my English and Chemistry classes and I still remember his presentation of an "ad" in English class for beer! He prepared for it by adding some dish soap to the water in the beer bottle and when he poured it out, the foam came out on top of the yellow colored water, Too!
In Chemestry we had a project that Mr Reber warned us NOT to get any of the chemicals near OUR FACE OR MOUTH. My beaker ended up turning green! The folks beside me had their experiments turn green; but when I turned around, Kal's experiment was bright orange and he was drinking it after he gave it a stir! (Actually TANG had just come on the market) and he smuggled some in for his experiment! He was so innovative and always had a sense of humor!!
Kal graduated and became a teacher who was involved with his students and he taught them to do the right thing; whatever they were doing. When he reached retirement years, while the rest of us were feeling sorry for being so old, Kal was doing really extraordinary things with his retirement!! His wife, Bonnie was lucky enough to go to all those neat places with him; from renting a villa in Tuscany to sailing the length of the Panama Canal!! He was still being innovative and I'm sure that he enjoyed his retirement more than any of the rest us did!!
Even when the ugly leukemia was threatening him, he took the giant lemon and made some lemonade with it. He had always wanted a T-Bird in his high school years and in 2020, he found a vintage, red one and bought it with the money he saved by not going on vacation during his illness! Kal was still the same old Kal, right up to the end of his ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC LIFE!! RIP dear friend, Vi