It is with profound sadness we announce the passing on January 12, 2021, of our beloved sister Mary Elizabeth (Donald) Calamai in her 77th year at the Juravinski Hospital. She was cared for by brother Rick and sister Patsy and the wonderful caring staff at the hospital especially Nathan, Shawnee, Joy, Natalie, Lauren and Dr. Raza. Mary was an avid world traveler having lived in London, Nairobi, Washington D.C., Vancouver and Ottawa as she accompanied her husband Peter at his various postings with Southam News. In later years they delighted in travelling together with a group of friends from University affectionately referred to as “The Dorking Dozen”. Mary moved to Stratford with Peter in 2016 to spend their retirement, closer to friends and the theatre that they loved. She was an avid Theater goer who actively fostered the same love in her many young nieces and nephews, treating them and their parents to an annual trip to the Stratford Festival since 1996. Mary was a collector of many things, with a special interest in beautiful fabrics, china and ephemera. She loved good food especially when accompanied by close friends and family, and a glass of white wine. Mary enjoyed spending time at the family cottage and was able to enjoy one last summer there in 2020. Mary is predeceased by her husband Peter Calamai, her parents Lt. Col. H. L. (Bud) and Frances Donald, her nephew Alex and her brother-in-law Doug McArthur. She is survived by her siblings Margaret McArthur, Jim Donald, Joe Donald (Sherree), Sue Rooney (Jim), Patsy Donald (Kevin McTiernan), Mike Donald (Mary Ann) and Rick Donald (Rose). She is also survived by brother in laws Michael Calamai and Paul Calamai (Kathy Sharpe). She will be missed dearly by her many nieces and nephews, Keith McArthur (Laura Williams), Liane Netherton, Fiona McArthur (Andrew Popov), Jennifer Cote (Jacob), Joe Rooney (Carly Howard), Stephanie McArthur, Jessica Donald (Mark Carolan), Christine Armstrong (Jeff), Tim Donald (Kirsty), Steve Donald (Marcy), Jenna Donald, Ashley Donald (Lee Pelham), Patrick Donald (Chelsea) and Christopher Donald. Mary also loved spending time with her great nieces and nephews, Lauryn, Josh and Izzy Cote, Samantha Netherton, Connor and Bryson McArthur, Neva and Meara Popov, Nicholas and Madeline Armstrong, Matthew Donald and Madison Donald. She will also be remembered by her Calamai nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Mary leaves behind a close group of friends, many of whom she has known for nearly six decades. There will be a Memorial Mass and Celebration of life at a later date. In lieu flowers the family asks for donations to the Cure GRIN Foundation.
Canadian donors get tax receipt through partnership with University of Toronto:https://donate.utoronto.ca/give/show/552
US / International donors: https://curegrinfoundation.salsalabs.org/fundraising/index.html
About GRIN Disorder:
https://curegrin.org/what-is-grin-disorder/
Sue, Jim, Patsy and the other Copetown Donalds, I am so sorry to read of your sister Mary’s passing. I’d gotten a heads-up through the old journalists’ grapevine. Prayers for you all as you learn to carry on with the gaping hole in your original team roster.
It is with great sadness that Flory and I have learned of Mary’s passing. I was a Southam News Services and science writing colleague of Peter’s for many years beginning in the 1960s and, like legions, knew and appreciated Mary and very much enjoyed her sparkle and company. To all of her wonderful extended family, we express our heartfelt sympathies. We know that her great big smile and happy laugh will long endure. With affection, Bob Cohen
My condolences to the extended Donald and Calamai families.
I have such fond memories of visits with Peter and Mary in London, Vancouver, Ottawa and Stratford. It never mattered if it had been years since we had seen each other, we could just pick up where we left off. The range of conversation was vast.
Mary’s knowledge of theatre was amazing. What always came through was her love of introducing the next generation to her passion. The highlight of each summer was obviously getting the clan together to go to the theatre. There was a running joke of what to do with the fabric? Mary had exquisite taste. She introduced me to many new recipes and her dinner parties were always full of laughter and white wine.
I know she was a part of the fabric of so many of the lives in your families. In that she will live on.
I first met Mary during my days as a “cub” reporter for the Silhouette, around 1964 – 66. Her calming presence helped reduce the number of times I would feel compelled to whip out my pre-printed resignation letter following one of Peter’s outbursts in the runup to some Sil deadline. Later, after Leslie and I became the US faction of the “Dorking Dozen” we greatly looked forward to seeing Mary at our biennial visits to an Italian hill-top villa or a drafty Scottish castle. I am an obsessive early riser (Leslie, not so much), yet Mary was always ahead of me, sitting quietly in the kitchen, book in one hand, cup of coffee in the other. We will greatly miss her!
We are saddened to learn of Mary’s passing. When Mary and Peter moved to Stratford, we particularly enjoyed our veranda lunches with them, talking about theatre and the newspaper business. Our sympathies to the Donald and Calamai families.
Stewart and Pat Brown
I am very sorry to hear that Mary has passed away. Mary and Peter were my next door neighbours in Ottawa for many years and no better neighbours could anyone have. We had lots of interesting conversations through the lilac hedge. My sincere condolences to the families.
May you be blessed with good memories of Mary. She and Peter made such a great team during so many years of journalism and travel. I met Mary back in the day at Southam News in Ottawa when she was our freedom-of-information sleuth. I always marveled at her patience and constant cheer no matter what was going on. She and Peter generously shared their knowledge and wisdom and hospitality and laughs. Perhaps they are back together up there now. Juliet O’Neill
Mary, Mary, Mary. Without you as his support and conscience, Peter would have run rampant – and he still managed to do that more often than not.
Mary was an angel as everyone knows, and without her we are all the poorer. Her infinite patience, interest and willingness to share new experiences made her a lovely friend to have. How lucky we were – and what a lovely and generous family she had. Thank you.
Memories of London theatre visits, reviewed around the table with a drink or two in hand, will remain with me forever. Goodbye my friend – your many stories will be shared with laughter and love.
My sincere condolences to all of Mary’s extended families. I first met Mary through friends in Ottawa and then again when she so happily moved to Stratford with Peter. She always had something positive to say no matter the subject. I can only imagine that Peter is pouring her a nice cold glass of white wine before going out for a fine dinner and a play.
I am so sorry to learn of Mary’s passing. I first became friendly with Mary and Peter in Nairobi and we stayed friends ever since. We saw each other regularly in Ottawa and then in Stratford after they moved, often over an excellent dinner. Mary was always in a good humour, gently teasing Peter. I heard a lot about her family, clearly so important to her. Please know that you have all my sympathies.
Peter and Mary among our favorite people. Recalling how much she enjoyed and appreciated the memories shared at the event at the Festival theatre after a gang of former colleagues enjoyed a performance of The Front Page.
Our deepest condolences to the Donald family for the loss of your dear sister! Our thoughts and prayers are will be with you at this difficult time. May her gentle soul Rest In Peace!
It was the early 70s in London when we were all young. The Calamais invited Tom and me to join them for our first concert ever at Glyndebourne – doing it right with Rolls Royce, chauffeur, and elegant picnic basket. Black tie of course. Peter then wrote it up with a photo of us, like other happy opera lovers, enjoying our picnic on a blanket on the lawn during intermission. While in England, I remember Mary telling me how she handled a problem that we shared – on our drives through the countryside on backroads, our husbands would express unmerited dissatisfaction when we, serving as navigators with maps in our laps, would get thoroughly lost from time to time. Mary put a stop to that, she said, by throwing all the maps out the window! Much later in Ottawa, the Calamais lived nearby and we kept close. I think of the many interests and good times we shared – including the fine dinner at which we celebrated Peter’s Order of Canada. Tom and I send our deep sympathy to Mary’s families. We shall miss a fine, smart, warm woman with happy eyes.
Mary always spread sunshine where ever she went. Her warm and generous spirit made everyone feel welcome and appreciated. Our friendship began at Cathedral Girls High School and spanned over 50 years. I first met Mary when we both acted in a high school play, Othello, under the direction of our revered Father John Hulley. Mary played Emilia and I was a lady in waiting. Besides theatre, we shared many other interests with both Mary and Peter and our bond of friendship and laughter remained strong despite the many interruptions when Peter’s career took them to far off places and adventures. She was a dear friend with a heart of gold and will always be remembered.
Donna Yates (Vaitonis) and Robert Yates
We extend our sincere condolences on your loss. I remember many happy times at the cottage with Mary and Peter. They always gave my dad a run for his money with their great stories of their travels. Big hugs to all of you.
My heartfelt condolences to the family of Mary, whom I met at university and always esteemed for her intelligence, warmth and hospitality, which I enjoyed first in Hamilton, later in Ottawa, and even in London, England, when she and Peter were living there. She will be sadly missed by many.
More than a few of us in Stratford will miss Mary’s smiling face when we would gather at the Bruce on Friday late afternoons. Peter and Mary were always one of the first to arrive. Peter usually dominated the conversation, but Mary provided the witty commentary.
I first met Mary and Peter in Nairobi, where they became dear friends. We shared many wonderful adventures in Kenya. Mary and I took particular interest in the local art galleries and the many auctions at which old colonial families disposed of wonderful, generations-old treasures. Our houses were full of these.
Before I returned to Canada, I lived with them for a time, and when they came back to Ottawa they stayed with me, while they looked for a house. Starting then, until they moved to Stratford, we took turns hosting Christmas dinner with friend Brenda O’Connor – a lot of Christmases, great food and conversation, and a lot of laughter… Brenda and I continued the Christmas tradition, but without Mary and Peter, it was never the same.
I always told Mary that if she ever decided to kill Peter, I would help her. That inevitably prompted a loud guffaw from the villain of the moment. I miss them terribly.