Dr. Calvertr. Dodge

Calvert Renaul Dodge, 89, of Pecos, New Mexico, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Cal is survived by his partner and friend of 38 years, Ernest E. Marck Jr. (Ed) and his four children; Lawrence W. Dodge, Laura I. Barth, Valerie L. Dodge and James C. Dodge. Cal has 15 grandchildren; Troy Schultz, Keith Schultz, Adam Behrle, Lindsay McNatt, Crystal Dodge, Christopher Dodge, Kevin Dodge, Renee Dodge, Philip Dodge, Michael Proctor, Monica Parsons, Caroline Ernst, Edwin Barth, Mae Barth and Doug Barth. Also 11 great-grandchildren; Kaitlyn Schultz, Casey Schultz, Jack Schultz, Samuel Schultz, Max Schultz, Allison McNatt, Alia Behrle, Charlotte Ernst, Benjamin Parsons, Rand Parsons and Natalie Gregory. Nieces and Nephews; Donis Nielsen Cullum, Dick Nielsen, David Nielsen, Doug Nielsen, Dale Nielsen Reif, Leslie Nielsen Hopkins and Lorrie Nielsen George. Preceded in death by Lynn Nielsen Fisher (2004) and Gary Calvert Nielsen (2009).
Cal was born to Lawrence and Anna Rose Manke Dodge in Chicago, IL. One brother, Wesley Lawrence (1908–1994) and one sister, Elvy Myrle Dodge Nielsen (1910–1984). Cal grew up in Chicago and graduated from Lane Tech in 1940. In 1943, Cal joined the Navy and served during WWII as an enlisted sailor on a destroyer. He earned his Air Force Commission during the Korean police action. He was in the Air Force Reserves until retiring in 1981 with almost 40 years military service and highest rank of Major.
Cal was full of adventure, love for life and lived it to the fullest. He always dreamed of owning a ranch and the west beckoned him. He was enrolled in the V12 program with the Navy at John Carroll University and ended up in Laramie Wyoming in 1943 where he attended the University of Wyoming and graduated with both a BA in Agriculture in 1949 and a MA in Sociology-Criminology in 1957. He met Mary Ruth Melchar of Rock Springs, Wyoming while in Laramie. They married in 1950 and began their life together in Brighton, Michigan. Cal worked for the Standard Oil Co. of Indiana as a public relations supervisor. Cal made his way back to Laramie in 1956 and settled his family there. His youngest, James Calvert was born in Laramie in 1958. Cal worked for two years with the 4-H groups and Future Farmers of America as a teacher and representative of Standard Oil. In 1958, Cal and partner Don Nagel, formed the Western Concrete Company manufacturing blocks and bricks. He began his big project of building the summer home up in Jackson Wyoming area with the blocks he manufactured. That cabin became the cornerstone of family life for the Dodges for many years. He ran for the State Treasurer's seat in 1962 as a Republican and resigned as President of his block company at that time. He lost the election by a little over 100 votes. Cal went on to new careers including; selling Chevy cars on Ford Street in Golden, Colorado, teaching, training and development for the State of Colorado for over 5 years in Boulder and Denver, and earning a Doctorate in Interpersonal Communications from the University of Denver in 1970. In 1969, he attended the seminar for the National Institute on Crime and Delinquency, held in Anaheim, California where he met the then Governor Ronald Reagan. They looked like brothers in the photo that appeared in national newspapers.
Cal was divorced in 1971 and went on to a new life and career as a professor He began traveling, teaching and writing. He published two books on criminology: "Nations without Prisons" in 1975 and "World without Prisons" in 1980. He moved to Kentucky in 1974 and traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia. In 1977, as an Instructor for the Far East Division, he taught to GI students in the armed forces in Korea, Germany, Spain and England.
In 1979-1980, Cal ended up in Fells Point, Baltimore and began extensive renovation on the historic row house on Broadway. He and Ed lived there for 27 years. He began another career as a Corporate Trainer and Facilitator for Human Equations, Inc. in Baltimore. He also facilitated the "Seminars at Sea" program where he would take a group of young people out for a day or two as a training exercise in human interactions and communication. He earned another BA at the University of Maryland in Film and Video Production in 1998.
His final careers were with the State of Maryland as an editor and publisher for the motorcycle division and an elevator operator for the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards (he met lots of cool celebrities and baseball players on that elevator).
Cal retired in the late 1990s. However, he continued on as a writer, poet, photographer and painter. He also loved to sail on his boat in the Chesapeake Bay and made his way back west over the years to reside summers in the Jackson Hole area at the family cabin in the Bridger Teton National Forest of Wyoming.
He also published several short stories about his family and an instruction manual on sailing for the U.S. Naval Academy. He was working on a short story about his dog, Teddy, when he died.
Cal spent his final 3 ½ years with Ed in their peaceful home in Pecos, New Mexico. He loved sitting on the patio, soaking up some sunshine with his cigar and martini, listening to the birds and sounds of nature in the nearby hills. He also loved the many visits from his daughters and friends and family who made their way down to Pecos. When he felt good, we would take up a night at the Santa Fe "Buffalo Thunder" casino and eat the buffet. Cal always enjoyed the shrimp and Polynesian meals there.
Cal was a member of the 4-H Youth Programs, Future Farmers of America, and Boys Clubs, Big Brother, and Alpha Zeta National Agricultural fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership, the Masonic Order, Elks Club, Boy Scouts Executive Committee, Young Republicans and the Democratic Party. He also was a member of the United Protestant Church in Illinois and the United Presbyterian Church in Colorado. He studied Buddhist Philosophy in his later years.
Cal had that deep resonating voice and was always "singing" a tune. He made friends with everyone by extending his warm and strong handshake. He had a hearty laugh and enjoyed people, travel and eating strange and exquisite cuisines. He was never afraid to try something new, skied the Rocky Mountains when he was almost 60 and scuba diving and deep sea fishing when he was 70. Calvert Renaul Dodge was one of the most memorable persons one could meet. He will truly be missed by all that loved him. The world is a better place because of his walk in life.
If you would like to make a contribution in memory of Calvert, please consider donating to the foundation that was set up in memory of his great niece, Annie Hopkins to help those with disabilities get into college. Donations can be made out to Anne Hopkins Scholarship Fund and mailed to PO BOX 522, Batavia, IL 60510 or donations can be made online at annehopkinsfoundation.org.
*footnote to Calvert's middle name "Renaul"
Grandmother Dodge was reading a book with this name when Cal was born. It has French and English roots and means "Powerful advisor of a Ruler"