Sara Gilfert

1929 - 2024

Athens Sara Louise (McCalmont) Gilfert, 94 years old, of Athens, OH, passed away in her home, surrounded by family, on March 15, 2024, from a failing heart.

Sara was born on June 1, 1929, to Rosa (Barricklow) and James Theodore "Ted" McCalmont, in Tarkio, MO. Her parents, herself, and her three siblings, Mary Utzig, Joseph McCalmont, and Scott McCalmont, lived most of their lives in Janesville, WI. After Sara graduated from Janesville high school in 1947, she moved out of state to study Journalism at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, OH.

It was at Antioch College's radio broadcasting program where she met her future husband, James Gilfert, of Tamaqua, PA. She was a broadcaster, and he was the radio transmitter technician. They married at the Antioch College chapel in 1949.

After marrying and once Jim finished his bachelor's degree, they moved to Columbus, OH, for Jim to continue postgraduate studies. Sara also continued her studies, switching to Home Economics at The Ohio State University. Jim earned his PhD in Physics and taught at OSU until 1967, when the family moved to Athens, OH, for Jim to teach Electrical Engineering at Ohio University. That is where Sara's life changed to involve a career in art, which she is known for today.

Sara admitted she never imagined herself becoming an artist when she was younger. It just so happened that Ohio University's School of Home Economics did not accept her transfer credit from OSU, but the School of Art would. Adapting and persevering, Sara enrolled in Ohio University's School of Art and took her first art class at 40 years old.

She quickly discovered textile art and weaving, which was the specification of her Master of Fine Art exhibit in 1979. The next year, she went on to teach at Ohio University until the close of the Textile Department in 1985. During that time, she became involved with the Athens Tapestry Works, a women's collective of textile artists in the Athens area.

Sara took her first paper making workshop in 1979 and fell in love with the medium. Her mastery was honed during a three-month apprenticeship of traditional hand paper making techniques in Japan in 1983. Upon returning home to Athens, she renovated their barn into a home paper making studio. With the help of her husband and inspiration from the Friends of Dard Hunter (now the North American Hand Papermakers), she built most of her paper making equipment by hand. She produced a varied and impressive collection of artworks over the decades. Many of her pieces were shown in her solo exhibition at the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking in Atlanta, GA, in 1999.

She went on to found the nonprofit, Paper Circle, in Nelsonville, OH, in 2003, with the aim of educating and celebrating the paper arts. Through her work with Paper Circle, Sara has spread the love of hand papermaking and paper arts to hundreds of artists and community members alike.

Sara was raised United Brethren and converted to Quaker in 1981. She was the 14th member of the Athens Friends Meeting located in Chauncey, OH, and was a regular attendee until her death.

Sara is survived by her three children, Susan, Ted, and Charles, as well as her five grandchildren: Leslie Gilfert, David Gilfert, Megan Gilfert, Kaitlyn Simon, and Kelly Johnson.

Her Celebration of Life is planned for the Athens Community Center on Saturday, June 1, from 5 to 8 pm. This will be an unplanned time for friends to gather and share stories about Sara. Finger foods and water will be available; potluck is welcome. If you can come, please wear something purple, Sara's favorite color. If you have photos or stories that you would like to share before the celebration, please send them to SaraGilfertCelebration@gmail.com before May 25. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Paper Circle, Athens Quakers, OhioHealth Hospice, or your favorite local charity. Support the arts! Sara Gilfert