Inspiring a Philanthropic Spirit from Generation to Generation

M. Suzanne “Susan” Scherer Calandra ’72 is grateful for her father’s influence as it has profoundly impacted the trajectory of her life. Recognizing the importance of higher education, Calandra's father, John Scherer (ND ’43), introduced her to Saint Mary’s and encouraged her to enroll at the College. In recollecting about her decision to attend Saint Mary’s, Calandra replied, “It was the only place I wanted to go and I was not disappointed.”

She met her husband, Philip Calandra ND ’72, when they were freshmen. Calandra has many Saint Mary’s friends, all of whom have inspired and championed each other through a lifetime of personal and professional opportunities and obstacles.

Following in her Dad’s footsteps, she pursued an economics and business major. Calandra's impressive professional journey included positions with Price Waterhouse and Marriot Corporation and culminated in a 25-year career at Stanford University.  “Saint Mary’s College instilled in me a love of learning and an intellectual curiosity which has served me well as I have progressed in my career and taken on different challenges,” Calandra said.

Calandra’s father taught her to give back and inspired a philanthropic spirit within her. Shaped by her transformative experiences and instilled with her father’s belief in higher education, Calandra has been a supporter of Saint Mary’s with gifts of her time, talent, and treasure, having served as a College trustee for 11 years.

Understanding the impact of legacy gifts, Calandra has named the College in a bequest intention and designated the College as a beneficiary of her retirement plan. The philanthropic spirit instilled in Calandra by her father will support future Saint Mary’s students and will hopefully inspire them to give back to the College, too. 

Calandra and her husband believe strongly in the impact of an education and support the family’s alma maters. And like her father, they have fostered a passion for philanthropy in their son, John. He promises to carry on their legacy by supporting Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame as well as his alma maters, Catholic University and University of San Francisco.

April 12, 2023