Tragically we lost Cal yesterday at his home in Willow Ak.
He will be missed.

wow. He was great to know and deal with.

What? Cal passed away? OMG!

Yes, a real loss of a friend. Though I want details, I say RIP Cal, you will be missed.

So sad to hear that and glad he lived his life fully. Many of us have learned a ton from him. RIP

Thanks for all you did for AR and in your life,
happy hunting and God Bless you

That's horrible. Just had a message from him the other day and he was looking forward to another Africa trip soon! RIP

WHAT!!..



Thanks Cal for sharing your knowledge on a shared passion.

Jens

Very sad news indeed!

RIP my friend and happy hunting. I'm going to go fire a few rounds of 4-bore in your honor in the morning to celebrate a life well lived.

RIP Cal!
Sad when we lose good ones.

I didn't know or deal with him but knew of his greatness through AR.

Zeke

Hard to believe.
RIP Cal!

May God rest his soul.

Can’t believe he left so suddenly.

Indeed! RIP Cal.

A great loss for sure, RIP Cal

Here is his last post:

"posted 18 May 2022 03:34 Hide Post
I have 10-15 boxes but am leaving in a few days for a month in SA and Zim. PM me the end of June.
Cal

_______________________________

Cal Pappas, Willow, Alaska"

Here is a post from another forum from a friend:


"ARHinAK said:
The last thing Cal said to me was
“We’ll see you at the airport “. That was Saturday afternoon.
He passed away in his home on Sunday with his bags packed, two of them already on the front porch.
It was Cal, with some gentle prodding who finally convinced to put my double rifle to proper use on a buffalo hunt and I couldn’t have happier to have been going with Cal Pappas.
We are continuing on with our hunt as planned. I’m 100% sure Cal wouldn’t have it any other way.
If I’m lucky enough to get close enough to an old dagga boy you can rest assured that Cal will be with me.
He was the best of us."

____________________________________________


I always enjoyed his posts. He was obviously excited about the upcoming trip. RIP Cal.

Bob

May his memory be eternal.

Oh dear. RIP Cal

When Cal spoke I listened.

A life well lived

Terrible news. Just terrible, Rest In Peace.

I just can’t beleive that he has passed on

He inspired into me the interest in double rifles and
Hunting in Africa.

I even bought a 600 NE double and loved hunting elephant
in Zim and Namibia with it many times.

He helped me get loading dies and other odds and ends to
continue with my passion for doubles.

What a gentleman and scholar.

RIP mate, you will be missed.

Still in shock as well. If someone ever writes Cal's biography, I will buy a copy.

This may be the only obit for our friend Cal. Much too young to leave us.

https://www.mat-suvalleyfunera...ituary/calvin-pappas

"... On Sunday, May 22nd, 2022, Calvin Richard Pappas, passed away at age 66.

Calvin Pappas was born on August 24, 1955 in Greenfield, Massachusetts.

He will be dearly missed by his family and friends..."

buckstix, thanks for sharing that!

6 days since Cal left us, I still find myself checking the header to see if he’s logged onto the forum. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one.

Buck, Thanks. I had been looking for that. Hope someone somewhere can share more.

This is really a surprising shock,he was too young to go,RIP.

Yes, gone way too early for sure. I had seen this thread title last week but didn't read it since it says that Cal lost a good one; I figured someone bought a rifle off him. I had no idea until someone called me and told me just now.
Now I realize that WE lost a good one!
RIP.

Shocked!!

EZ

He will be greatly missed by everyone around here.
I had just seen him 2 days earlier. We only lived a few miles apart and ran into each other regularly. He was a great friend and was loved at the school here.

Aside from JJ Peredeau and George Caswell, I have never met anyone as knowledgable on double rifles as Cal. He was a special and unique person.

Sad to hear of this. Saw it on FB a couple of weeks ago.

His passion for classic old rifles was amazing and he took it to new level.

Happy hunting grounds Cal and hope you have a lot of vintage doubles to play with.

Holy Crap, I have been absent from the forum for a few years, but I sold all my reloading gear and a pickup to him in September and he was talking of another trip to Africa.
He was a good friend that will be missed. When I wander back stateside I'll stop by his cabin in Willow and remember him.

Mike, he was actually waiting to be picked up to go to the airport for another African safari when he passed suddenly. I'm sure he's hunting on the other side now.

Thanks Jon.
I'm sure he's got that 600 stashed under the wings somehow.

I wasnt on AR for a couple of years because i was fully busy guiding surgery and deployed.Sent emails to Cal with not response.What a sad notice he advised me on doubles many times.It seems the old ones of AR are departing too fast.Until Valhalla warriorhunter