A woman who truly made you feel seen, not just heard. Who brought warmth as well as kindness wherever she passed. May the coffee in your next life be endless. Rest in peace.
I will miss Aunt Jean tremendously. She gave me such a warm welcome to the Calvert family over 30 years ago. I am grateful for her contribution to our family Christmas tradition of paper bag stockings each fully illustrated with annual thematic sketches (a new Presidential cabinet!) and clever “news stories” for each family member (12, 15, 18 people!) all created late into Christmas Eve, but always ready in time for Christmas morning gift giving! Jean’s sense of adventure reached from Santa Cruz all the way around the world—and her fabulous story-telling ability made you feel apart the adventures. Inevitably she had some exciting and/or hilarious event to share each time she traveled— and we looked forward in anticipation of hearing some escapade each time we visited. We will continue to treasure her art work in memory her very generous spirit. In tribute to Jean, the SF Giants have lost a giant fan, and the Calverts (writ large) have lost a giant among us. Rest in love and appreciation, Jean.
She was a wonderful teacher and inspired a life-long love of literature and poetry. She also was a great defender. There was a horrible bully at Branciforte Jr. High School who had the locker next to me, I stood up to him one day and he slammed my hand in my locker and broke my finger, I screamed (it was right outside her classroom) and she was there for me, took me to the nurse and was extremely comforting. After she left me in the care of the nurse, she found the bully, grabbed him by the back collar and marched him, first to apologize to me, and then straight to the principal. He was expelled and I never saw him again. The next day I was there in class, in my cast and she told everyone about the importance of being a caring member of society and that there was no room for bullies, she wouldn’t put up with it and neither should we. She later pulled me aside and told me that I was a brave person and that she thought I’d do just fine in life. I remember that it meant so much to me to have her say that! I raise a cup of coffee to you Ms. Calvert! Good Journeys!
