SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Gerald S. Calabrese, 64, longtime consumer electronics industry veteran, died at home after an extended illness.
Calabrese had a long career in the CE industry, most recently serving as founder and president of Nuko, a technology distributor specializing in the sales, marketing and distribution of consumer electronics products.
He is perhaps best known for his long relationship with Philips Consumer Electronics, where he served in a succession of roles, including marketing VP for the CD-I platform, an early form of disc-based interactive TV.
He later coordinated marketing efforts at Emerson Radio, where he helped develop a turnaround strategy, and served as president of the core technologies division of Lernout & Hauspie, a Belgium-based speech-recognition technology company. He was also president of Innovative Marketing Group.
Calabrese was born May 3, 1949, in Newark, N.J., to Sam and Louise Calabrese. He is survived by his wife, Susan Calabrese; his mother, Louise Calabrese; his children, Kristi Calabrese Davidson, son-in-law Keith Davidson, Michael Samuel Calabrese, and daughter-in-law Kelley Calabrese; sister, Patricia Ann Lemoncelli; and several grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at St.Jude.org, tribute No. 34176593, or by mail at St. Jude Tributes, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148.
