He was born on August 8, 1928. He attended
St. Philip Neri Grammar School, Immaculate High School, and
St. Bonaventure University. He graduated from
St. John's Law School. He was an Assistant
United States Attorney. He was Chairman of the
Republican Party in
the Bronx. He married Jo Ann Trentacosta, and they had two children. He ran for the
New York State Senate in 1962 and 1964, but was defeated both times by Democrat
Joseph E. Marine. In November 1965, after re-apportionment, he was elected, and then re-elected several times. He was a member of the State Senate from 1966 until his death in 1986, sitting in the
176th,
177th,
178th,
179th,
180th,
181st,
182nd,
183rd,
184th,
185th and
186th New York State Legislatures. In 1967, he ran for
District Attorney of Bronx County, but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat
Isidore Dollinger. In the
New York State Senate, Calandra rose to the position of
Majority Whip. Calandra lived in an area of the Bronx between
Pelham and
Pelham Bay Park. His son, John J. Calandra, stated that John D. Calandra faced criticism from political opponents due to his living in the area. He died on January 20, 1986, in
Mount Sinai Hospital in
Manhattan, after suffering a series of
heart attacks. His widow Jo Ann Calandra ran as an Independent in the special election for her husband's Senate seat in April 1986, but was defeated by Republican
Guy Velella. ==Legacy==