Peter Alan Kalman passed away on Monday afternoon at 4:32 pm surrounded by his family in the home he built in  Columbus, NC. Peter is survived by his wife of almost 38 years, Conni, his daughters Maia and Shelby, and his beloved Saint Bernadoodle, Shana. 

For 40 years, Peter set the standard for perishable handling and customer excellence in the logistics industry. Since starting his business, FOB International, on an unemployment check in St Thomas, countless clients became long standing friends. In growing his business internationally, he partnered with companies and teams that he held in the highest regard- none more than Able Freight Services, K&N Koln, Air Marine, Vandegrift YYZ, and others I am sure I am forgetting. When he sold his company to Commodity Forwarders International Inc., he stayed onboard to ensure the same care and handling to those businesses that relied on him. In 2014, he brought his team with him to build a new airfreight division for Seafrigo USA, Inc., enabling expansion to three (3) Airfrigo USA locations before he retired, and leaving charge of the division to his prodigy and proxy son, Cris Dilone.

Peter worked through his 2016 diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma, and outlived the two (2) year expectancy from his stem cell transfusion. In 2017, he made the decision to retire, build his dream home in North Carolina, and welcome his last furbaby, Shana, to the family. 

Peter lived his country dream in the South, moving to a home he designed in 2019 while continuing his long standing battle with cancer. In November 2024, Peter was diagnosed with Myelodysplasia Syndrome (MDS). In the face of a grim prognosis, Peter made the choice to spend his last  days with his family, connecting with those he loved. That choice gave our family a last Thanksgiving singing Alice's Restaurant at noon, eating absolutely no turkey, and sharing stories and love to last a lifetime. 

Peter lived with Multiple Myeloma since 2016, but passed just 32 days after being diagnosed with Myelodysplasia Syndrome (MDS). As his platelet count dropped below 20k, blood transfusions with platelets became essential to his quality of life. It was only when I donated platelets for the first time that I began to understand the amount of energy and stoicism to accomplish the most mundane of tasks. If you are healthy and able, we encourage you to donate platelets at a blood center near you to give someone else life for a little longer. You can find a center near you at https://www.redcrossblood.org…

In accordance with his wishes, no funeral was held. Instead, a lunch was held at Cirella's, his favorite restaurant in Huntington Station, NY. He curated the music, selected the food, and penned the guest list. Cheers and not tears were had. 

Peter was cremated, and his remains will be spread in Steamboat, CO, the trip we never made, in Sapphire Beach in St Thomas, where he started his company, and in St Louis, MO,  with his sister.

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