Dr. Alexander M. Calenda of Warwick Dies at 94
Friday, November 18, 2022
On November 16th, Dr. Alexander M. Calenda of Warwick, died at the age of 94 years after living a beautiful and blessed life. Surrounded in love by his family, he peacefully and with grace left to continue his journey and to be fully received by God’s embrace. Dr. Calenda leaves behind Mary, his wife of almost 62 years, and his children, Giovonne Mary, Alexander, Katherine, and William and his son-in-law Scott whose hearts will forever be filled with immeasurable love, admiration, and gratitude for the presence of this husband and father in their lives. He also leaves his dog, Georgie Girl and kitty, Oliver Twist, whose companionship filled the days with mutual love and joy.
Dr. Calenda was born in Providence, RI on June 17, 1928, and was the proud son of Mr. and Mrs. Alessandro and Giovannina Calenda, who came to this country as young, Italian immigrants. The much-loved youngest of five, he was predeceased by his siblings and family-in-law; Dr. Charles and Mrs. Amelia Calenda, Mr. Nicholas and Mrs. Etta Sammartino, Dr. Daniel G. and Mrs. Belle Calenda, and Mr. Mario and Mrs. Nina Marcone. Dr. Calenda was predeceased by his parents and his father and mother-in-law, Dr. William F. and Mrs. Katherine Donahue of Brookline, MA.
Dr. Calenda was a graduate of Classical High School and Providence College and received a degree in medicine from the University of Bologna, Italy. He completed his rotating internship at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Boston, where he also had the good fortune to meet his beloved wife, Mary Donahue RN. Dr. Calenda furthered his training at the Harvard University Graduate School of Medicine, receiving a certificate in the Basic Sciences of Ophthalmology. He then completed his residency at Boston University Medical School where he served as chief resident. Licensed in RI in 1958 to the practice of medicine Dr. Calenda proudly maintained his license until his death through ongoing professional development in the field of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Calenda opened his private practice in 1960, maintained offices in both Providence and Warwick and was the first ophthalmologist to practice in the Kent County area. He was one of the c0-founders of the Department of Ophthalmology at Kent County Hospital and later served as chief of the department. During his career as a surgeon, Dr. Calenda was also on the staff at the Rhode Island Hospital and served as Chief of the Department of Ophthalmology at both St. Joseph’s Hospital and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital. Dr. Calenda was Board-certified in ophthalmology in 1963, following which he became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He was the first to establish clinical and surgical services at the State Institution and Ladd School, acting as chief medical director at both institutions.
Dr. Calenda was a member of a number of professional associations, including the Providence Medical Society, the RI Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the New England Ophthalmological Society in Boston, MA, the American Society of Ophthalmologists, the Society of Refractive Surgeons, and the New England Ocular Implant Society in Boston, MA.
Dr. Calenda trained under Dr. Charles Kelman of New York City who invented the advanced technique of small-incision surgery and removal of cataracts by ultrasound. Dr. Calenda was the first ophthalmologist in RI to use the phacoemulsification technique, which is the standard today and he later introduced intra-ocular lens implantation following cataract surgery. Dr. Calenda was grateful for the opportunity to use these techniques at Kent County Hospital, which promoted and supported advances in modern eye surgery.
Dr. Calenda later trained in corneal transplantation under the world-renowned corneal surgeon Dr. Ramon Castroviejo of New York City, which enabled him to perform Rhode Island’s first successful corneal transplant at Kent County Hospital. Following this, he established the first and only Eye Bank in RI. Due to his training in corneal surgery, Dr. Calenda then advanced the procedure of the implantation of a telescopic device ( Cardona implant) in the eyes of patients with severe vision loss due to opacification of the cornea. The impact of this procedure was evident early on with Dr. Calenda’s successful restoration of 20/20 vision in one eye of a patient with total bilateral blindness. This was one of a few such surgical procedures successfully performed nationally.
Dr. Calenda furthered his training under the tutelage of the pioneer Dr. Karl Ossoenig of the University of Iowa in the use of ultrasound for the exploration and diagnosis of diseases of the inner aspects of the eye. Dr. Calenda introduced this modernity to RI.
At the invitation of Dr. Danielle Aron Rosa, the inventor of the YAG Laser for secondary cataract surgery, Dr. Calenda traveled to France to be trained by her at the University of Paris Medical School. He returned to RI to perform this surgical procedure, as well as the use of laser surgery in the treatment of glaucoma. It was again at the Kent County Hospital where Dr. Calenda was the first to introduce the concept of outpatient cataract surgery.
Dr. Calenda was a brilliant and gifted surgeon who loved his profession and was honored by the extraordinary opportunity it afforded him to improve the lives of his patients. He was a life-long learner with an inquisitive mind and a desire to know. He valued his own education and instilled this in his children. Although he did not consider himself an artist, he was a creative innovator who allowed God to guide his eyes and hands throughout his 50-year-long practice. Dr. Calenda loved the relationships that emerged with his patients over the years and delighted in their visits which often included conversations in Italian and the exchange of delicious recipes. With gentleness, professionalism, and concern, he- focused on each patient as a whole person. He was also a teacher who loved sharing his knowledge with others and enthusiastically did so with respect and encouragement. In his later years, he developed an interest in the study of wine and he approached this new passion with almost the same fervor as his medical studies. This led to the founding of The RI Academy of Wine, a collaboration with some of his dearest friends. Dr. Calenda was also a parishioner of St. Kevin’s Church in Warwick and a member of the Warwick Country Club.
For all of his experiences and successes, it was undoubtedly his love for his family and their love for him that gave Dr. Alexander Calenda the most joy and meaning to his life. Nothing compared to the days at Camelot Farm in Warwick Neck, the home on Narragansett Bay that he and Mary lovingly created. It was the center for many happy celebrations and gatherings with family and friends through the years. Cooking and enjoying meals at the kitchen table, beautiful sunsets on the water and strolls in the back forty amidst the family flock were some of his favorite things. The city boy from Providence never ceased to be amazed by the life that he had been given and we are grateful for the gift of his life.
His funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 10:00 am from the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Ave, Warwick, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am in St. Kevin Church, 333 Sandy Ln, Warwick. Burial will be private. Visiting hours will be Monday 4-8 pm.
