Dominick Pio Calabrese, 94, of Tinton Falls, passed away May 17, 2025. Dominick was born in the Bronx, New York, and spent the bulk of his formative years in Long Branch. He was the youngest of four children born to Dominick and Theresa Calabrese.
On Feb. 12, 1951, at the age of 20, Dom left college in his junior year, where he was majoring in Spanish, to enlist and serve with the United States Army during the Korean War. After completing his basic training, he was assigned to the Army Language School in Monterey, California; he graduated in 1952 with a diploma in Russian. He served with distinction as part of the Army Signal Corps stationed in West Germany. Upon his discharge, he continued his studies at Montclair State Teachers College (now Montclair University) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with minors in Spanish and music.
He began his career in 1955, teaching Spanish and English in the Toms River public school system and spending his summers as a lifeguard. From 1958 to 1966, he taught Russian and Spanish at Pascack Valley Regional High School. During that period, he developed a state-approved curriculum for teaching a four-year Russian language program in public schools, the first of its kind. While working as a teacher, Dominick continued his education in the master’s program at Middlebury College in Vermont, graduating in 1961 with an M.A. in Russian, Soviet-area studies, Spanish and music. While residing in Vermont, he also worked as a tennis instructor.
While in the Army, Dominick met his future bride, Jean. His bunkmate and close friend, Garrett Collins, reluctantly introduced Dominick to his sister, who just happened to live only a few miles away in a neighboring Shore town. In 1952, Dominick and Jean married while he was stationed in Monterrey. Dom and Jean started their family in 1956, resulting in four children through 1966.
In 1966, the family moved from Woodcliff Lake to Tinton Falls, where Dominick took a teaching position and later rose to supervisor of the Foreign Language department at Monmouth Regional High School, teaching both Russian and Spanish. His teaching style was innovative. He was very interactive, animated and used storytelling as a method to engage and enthuse his students. Not surprisingly, he also acted in some of the school’s plays and was a drama club favorite. In the late 1960s, Dominick took an additional position as a lector at Monmouth University, where he helped mold future language teachers over the course of two decades.
Dom also worked for the New Jersey Department of Education, leading workshops in Methods and Techniques, teaching foreign languages, and utilizing language laboratories. During this period, he also served as chairman of the Russian Reading Comprehension Committee, developing the Modern Language Association (MLA) Cooperative Foreign Language Tests, and developing and evaluating Russian listening comprehension tests for the College Entrance Examination Board.
Dominick retired from teaching in 1990 and enjoyed an active retirement, becoming a fixture at the Red Bank YMCA, running marathons in New York City, and swimming competitively in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Long Branch, where he enjoyed swimming as a child. In addition to being a parishioner, he devoted himself to serving as a Eucharistic minister and lector and taught Sunday School at St. Dorothea’s Roman Catholic Church in Eatontown.
Dominick had the opportunity to leave a lasting impression on his community during his many years of service – both secular and religious. In his professional life, he achieved his goals and was satisfied with his accomplishments.
He loved the outdoor lifestyle and could not wait for the summer months, whether it was going to the beach or working outside. At home, Dom enjoyed taking care of the gardens, grounds and his wife’s last creation, a koi pond. He was often seen maintaining the property, mowing the grass, pruning trees and shrubs – all while making time for his daily commute to the Y – well into his late 80s.
Dominick was predeceased by his beloved wife Jean Calabrese née Collins; his parents, Dominick and Theresa Calabrese née Ciancone; and his siblings, Vincent, Lucy and Gigi (Louis). He is survived by his children, Gregory and his wife Nancy, Michael, David, and Laurie and her husband Murphy; his grandchildren, Rachel and Brian; and his niece Joann, her husband Todd and their son Nick.
The article originally appeared in the May 29 – June 4, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
