Obituary of Frederick Daniel Kalafate

Frederick Daniel (Danny) Kalafate, 63 of Portland, Oregon passed in his sleep on Nov. 9, 2010 at home from complications of lung cancer where he lived with his wife Patty Kalafate Born June 3, 1947 at Oregon City Hospital to the parents of Frederick and Theresa Kalafate he attended Sylvan Grade School and Lincoln High School both in Portland. In his senior year he quit school to enlist into the United States Marine Corp where he served honorably and did one tour of duty in Viet Nam as a Machine Gunner on a CH-46 (Chinook) Helicopter. Earning a Bronze Star for heroism when his helicopter team and the Marines they were extracting came under heavy enemy fire, through his courage he held the enemy at bay until the helicopter they were on could lift off safely. He also earned the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in that same fire Fight. He continued his fight with infections attributed to Agent Orange for which the cancer was blamed. Survived by Brother Vincent, Sisters Karen and Joanie Kalafate and a Niece Trisha Stevens of Littleton, Colorado his sister Carmen, Father Fred, Mother Theresa preceded him in death. He was married twice before to Sue Modicett and Grace Silver and although, he had no children of his own he was the catalyst to a wide number of friends who called him their brother and their children who called him Uncle. No person who never met Danny disliked him he was the rock that held most friendships and his family together. His school hood friends, Wayne Elliott and Arnold Wright continued to be his friend over the years and helped care for him while he was ill up till his passing. He spent a number of years in Palm Springs, California where he drove taxi so he could be by his ailing Mother until her passing in 2004. He then returned to Portland where he lived on Hayden Island until his marriage to Patty Lewis, when they moved to Milwaukie. Cancer was first detected in 2002 and he beat the odds by 3 years when he was given only five years to live. A Military funeral will be held at Willamette National Cemetery at 2 pm, Nov. 19 and all who wish to attend should arrive early for escort service to the grave site. At his request a wake will also be held at Pete's Lair Tavern 17720 SE Mcloughlin 4pm friday after funeral to celebrate his life. He wished to be remembered by telling all who will listen that, I Did it His Way. Any remembrances should be donations to the American Lung Cancer Society in him name.