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Peter Kaluza

Peter “Piotr” Kaluza of Madison, loving husband, father, and entrepreneur, passed away in the early afternoon of Jan. 14, 2024, due to a sudden heart failure triggered by COVID. He was born the elder of two children in Krakow, Poland, on Jan. 25, 1952, to the late Władysława and Włodzimierz Kaluza. Peter leaves behind his devoted son Simon, his favorite niece Alexa Cervo of Madison, his sister Magdalena Fiszer, as well as a close-knit group of family and friends.

Peter loved his home city of Krakow with all his heart. Some of his fondest memories were of playing soccer as a boy on the same fields as his legendary uncle Józef Kałuza. That said, the Cold War wrought unique challenges upon his generation. His family spoke vocally for Polish freedom during its occupations and supported an underground radio station. This resistance cost his family dearly, and Peter saw many of his family and friends “disappear” due to their politics – these experiences instilled a guarded mindset in Peter, especially when it came to bureaucracies and authoritarianism. Even so, his parents helped pierce the “iron curtain” with religion, arts, and tradition. He tore through novels and books of all kinds voraciously, and to this day, his library of books on every topic remained his greatest passion.

Peter met his wife Cecelia, a Massachusetts native, while she was studying in Krakow and married her on May 9, 1975. Shortly thereafter, he returned with her to the U.S., where he worked as a printer in Massachusetts. He and Cecelia moved to Madison and founded a travel agency together in 1989 to share their passion for spiritual travel. They built a wonderful family in the years in between. Though they faced great hardship brought on by illness in the twilight years of their life together, Peter’s unfaltering devotion and sacrifice for his family and friends inspired many.

In addition to his immediate family, Peter also leaves behind his daughter-in-law Nicolette Kaluza (with grandson on the way!), many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, especially his dear lifelong friends from the Bergander family. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Cecelia Kaluza, as well as his parents.

Family and friends visited on Jan. 23 at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. A funeral service of thanksgiving and joy for the gift of his life was held on Jan. 24 at the St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, 24 Academy Street, Madison, with a short burial ceremony following at Alder Brook Cemetery, 375 Boston Street, Guilford. Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.