David Gerard Calabrase

On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the world lost a great man, and heaven gained a great soul. David was born on June 27, 1965, in Fairmont, West Virginia, where he cherished his roots and formed lifelong friendships.

David's warm smile, engaging personality, selflessness, and easy sense of humor lit a room. David had a rare gift for finding the good in every situation and bringing out the best in others, whether it was at home, at work, or on the golf course. The friendships he formed lasted a lifetime — often strengthened through trips, gatherings, and other adventures.

David was a man of many passions. His unwavering faith, his love of Italian cuisine, his passion for traveling, dedication to golf, his enjoyment of playing basketball, and his devotion for the West Virginia Mountaineers. His love of music was evident as he learned to play the piano as a young child and in turn encouraged his children to play an instrument. David’s commitment to faith was unshakeable. He grew up attending Catholic school and graduated from Fairmont Senior High School, where he was class President his senior year. As an adult, he attended mass every Sunday and shared his faith by teaching religious education at St. Mark Catholic Church. David had reached the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus; known as the patriotic degree, they uphold the Church's core principles of charity, unity, and fraternity. 

During his college years at West Virginia University, David was affectionately known as “Brew” to his good friends and was an active member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity where he served as Chaplain, played various intramural sports, and enjoyed all the social activities associated with fraternity and college life. While at the university, He earned a BS in Business Administration, which propelled him to build a strong and successful career in sales and marketing. He retired as a National Accounts Management Executive.

David cherished cooking and proudly took the lead on Sunday family pasta dinners. Any time his daughters’ friends visited, he made sure they were well fed before they left— it was rare for anyone to leave the house without sharing a plate. He truly enjoyed getting to know their friends and he made them all feel like family. His daughters’ friends affectionately nicknamed him “Pepper” leading them to create a group chat among them called “Pepper’s Number 1 Fan Club,” a nod to how much they enjoyed his company.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 29+ years, Marianna Mira Calabrase, who will forever hold his memory dear. His daughters Mirabella A Calabrase and Nena Alivia Calabrase. He is also survived by his siblings: Mark Calabrase, Ann Hetrick, and Nancy Murrah.

David was predeceased by his parents, Nicholas and Clarine Maunz Calabrase, and his grandparents, Nicholas and Elizabeth Calabrase, and Austin and Virginia Maunz. Their love, guidance and faith shaped the man he became.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 27, 2025, from 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home of Huntersville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 28, 2025, 11:00 AM, at St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville. Interment will follow the mass at Mt. Zion Community Cemetery, Cornelius. 

Our lives are so much better for having known him...but he is now gone way too soon. He will be deeply missed.

Online memories and condolences may be shared at www.KepnerFH.com