This month, Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors is pleased to introduce you to The Calderon Family: Brandon, Kristen, Emerson, Colin and Felicity. Though this busy family of five is always on the go, they make sure to pause from time to time to appreciate the life they have built and the wonderful community we live in.
When Kristen was young, she and her family moved around a lot because her father served in the Army. She, her parents, and her two older sisters lived in Texas and Maryland before moving to the area when Kristen was in first grade. She went to Wayne Elementary, Radnor Middle School and Radnor High School, where she “dabbled” in many sports, including soccer, lacrosse, ice hockey and tennis.
After high school, Kristen attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she earned her degree in Public Relations. “I worked at a firm in Cincinnati for a bit after graduation, but as time went by, I felt the need to change my career,” she explained. “I grew up watching my mother enjoy her job as a Reading Specialist in the Haverford School District, and I felt drawn to work with kids.” Kristen said that she knew that, eventually, she wanted to start her own family and that becoming a teacher would allow her the flexibility to spend more time with her own kids. “Fortunately, I found an incredible program at The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) that offered a 10-month Master’s of Elementary Education degree,” Kristen said. “I jumped at the opportunity, and I can say that I absolutely love what I do.”
Kristen initially taught first grade in the Lower Merion School District. She worked there for ten years before moving to The Episcopal Academy (EA). “I started teaching second grade at EA in 2020 at the height of the pandemic,” she noted. “That was challenging for sure!” Kristen then had the opportunity to move to the Pre-K classroom, where she described her days as filled with fun, wonder and lots of hugs!
Brandon is originally from Sandusky, Ohio, where he grew up with his parents and younger sister. He also has four half-siblings, three of whom are now serving in the military. Brandon attended public school in Sandusky and graduated from Sandusky High School, where he ran track and cross country, swam and served as President of the Student Council.
After graduating, Brandon headed to Miami University of Ohio in Oxford, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Studies with a minor in Organization Management. He continued his education at Xavier University to earn his Masters in Health Services Administration. “Today, I am a Hospital Administrator at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP),” Brandon said. “I played a major role in helping create the new CHOP hospital in King of Prussia.” Brandon added that in his position, he gets to problem-solve daily, allowing the pediatricians he works with to focus on what they do best – ensuring great care for the children of our area, training the next generation of clinicians and devoting energy to making innovative advances in pediatric research.
Miami University’s website touts Oxford, Ohio, as a legendary college town. It’s home to the university’s main campus and is a picturesque town brimming with ideas, opportunities and, dare we say, Love! “Brandon and I met during our junior year,” Kristen explained. “We ended up living in off-campus houses right next door to each other, so we started hanging out and hit it off.”
The happy couple started dating in the fall of their senior year, graduated together, and then moved to Cincinnati. It wasn’t long, however, before the Main Line called Kristen’s name. “We lived in Cincinnati for one year before I was able to convince Brandon to move to Havertown,” Kristen laughed.
Now back “home”, Kristen and Brandon settled in and began making memories. “One particular chilly day in February, Kristen and I had planned a fun date night in Philly,” Brandon said. “Little did she know that I had a little something up my sleeve.” Kristen laughed as she recalled that they were walking through Rittenhouse Square after dinner, and she kept telling Brandon that she wanted to get back to the hotel because it was so cold
outside. “I had no clue that Brandon was going to ask me to marry him during that walk,” she said. “We hurried back to the hotel. I was freezing, and Brandon was nervous, so as soon as we walked into our hotel room, he got down on one knee and popped the question.” Brandon wasn’t done with surprises, though. He had arranged for their family to join them for brunch in the city the next day.
Brandon and Kristen were married in April 2009 at Kristen’s family’s church, Wayne Presbyterian, followed by a reception at the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia. “We were the first of our college friends to get married, so it was one big dance party,” Kristen said. She also mentioned that Miami University has a deep tradition for students who get married. “We are considered a “Miami Merger” and receive a Valentine’s Day card from the university every year!” The newlyweds honeymooned on the beautiful island of Maui, where they spent a week relaxing and planning their future, which Kristen said included getting a puppy upon their return.
Big fans of the TV show 24, Kristen and Brandon added a golden retriever named after the show’s main character, Jack Bauer, to their family. The three lived in Havertown for a few years, then moved to Berwyn, where Jack became a “paw-some” big brother to their three children, Emerson, Colin and Felicity. Sadly, Jack Bauer passed away in the winter of 2023, and the Calderons hope to find a “fur-ever” friend to love in the coming year.
Emerson is their oldest daughter. She’s an active 12-year-old who attends Radnor Middle School. Emerson’s true passion is in dance. She began dancing at two years old and is now part of a dance company that performs in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and regularly attends dance competitions. Emerson will also be performing at Walt Disney World next summer. Kristen said Emerson is very confident and enjoys performing on stage and at home. She wants to become a Radio City Music Hall Rockette in the future.
Colin is Brandon and Kristen’s entrepreneurial nine-year-old son who attends Ithan Elementary School. He plays lacrosse for the Team Ten Club, loves video games and can often be found hosting lemonade stands in the neighborhood to earn money. Brandon said Colin wants to become a video game programmer and a pro- fessional lacrosse player someday.
Five-year-old Felicity is the youngest of the Calderon crew. Her name literally means happiness, and her parents said it describes her perfectly. Felicity loves to have fun, laugh and dance around the house. She’s a big Taylor Swift fan and aspires to be just like her when she’s older. Felicity also loves swimming at St. Alban’s Swim Club and going to the beach with her family and she is excited to begin her first year of cheerleading.
While the Calderons loved their home in Berwyn, they needed more space and a yard for their growing family. “In 2022, we found a home in Newtown Square that checked all our boxes,” Brandon said. “We live right down the street from St. Albans Swim & Tennis Club, where we spend much of our summer and where Kristen served as the club’s social coordinator. We have a big backyard and are close to shopping and restaurants in Wayne, Media and Ardmore.”
Recently, Kristen rekindled her love for tennis by taking clinics at St. Albans. “I have always loved playing, and I really enjoy the tennis community there,” Kristen said. “Now Brandon has joined in the fun, so we get to stay active and spend quality time together, which is so essential to do as busy parents.”
Family time is just as important for Brandon and Kristen. “We’re a busy family of five!” Kristen said. “We want to expose our children to new experiences and help support and cultivate their passions. That means we’re constantly on the go, but people always tell us that Brandon and I will miss this hectic life one day.” Brandon said that besides he and Kristen spending a lot of time driving their kids to and from school and their activities, they like to set aside time for fun family rounds of UNO, swimming and playing tennis at St. Albans and taking an annual vacation to their favorite beach in Avalon, NJ. “We all love the beach and make the best memories there,” Kristen said. “We walk around town, ride bikes, grab ice cream and relax.” They also said they hope to plan a family trip to Europe soon.
Thank you, Brandon and Kristen, for sharing your story with our Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors. We wish you many more years of happiness here in our hometown, and we will be sure to check in with you after you take your European adventure!
Do you know a Newtown Square family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for
upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com.