Kenneth J. Calemmo was the ultimate jack of all trades. From building birdhouses from wood scraps to painting hyper-realistic portraits and scenes, Ken was a master creator. He’d often spend his retired days in “Ken’s Place,” his safe haven garage-turned-art studio. Art supplies and power tools line the walls of Ken’s Place in an organized mess, one that only made sense to the artist himself. Accompanied by a small FM radio inside the studio that he never turned off, Ken spent hours perfecting his many crafts. And you couldn’t enter Ken’s Place without permission, of course. Ken, 84, was a simple man born in a simple time in the Bronx. He loved Italian long hots, Busch beer, and practical jokes – you could be sure that he’d always pull a fast one on you. Laughter was his one true medicine. Ken spent his formative years living in Massapequa, NY, and later relocated to Mt. Pocono, PA, with his nine children.
Weddings, graduation parties, and any other family celebrations were Ken’s favorite excuses to hit the dance floor. Often, he’d be dancing alongside his wife of 64 years, Arlene, while surrounded by a circle of his 23 grandchildren cheering them on. He always made it known that, if given the chance, they’d win Dancing With the Stars. The FM radio is still on, and Ken is surely still dancing.
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