Chairman and founder of Comax Flavors Peter J. Calabretta, Ph.D., passed away January 19, 2020 at the age of 85.
Calabretta, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, was a triple alumnus of St. John’s University where he earned his BA in 1955, his MS in 1958 and his Ph.D. in 1965, all in chemistry. His dedication to the university continued when he established the Peter J. Calabretta, Ph.D. Scholarship Fund, which is awarded annually to a current student. In June of 2018, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Prior to founding Comax Flavors in 1977, Calabretta worked at selected companies including Hoffman LaRoche, Stauffer Chemical and Felton International. In addition, he was an active member of The Flavor and Extracts Manufacturers Association (FEMA), serving on various committees.
He is survived by his wife Louise, 62, his children; Peter Calabretta Jr., Paul Calabretta, Laura Ferrante, Claudine Muccini and Catherine Armstrong, as well as seven grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 1300 Northern Blvd, Manhasset, New York on Friday, January 24, 2020, at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to The Peter J. Calabretta, Ph.D. Scholarship Fund. Donations can be made payable to St. John’s University and sent to St. John’s University, Office of Gift Planning, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, New York.
