Rita D Kallman

Rita D. Kallman, 90, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, November 3 surrounded in her final days by family, friends, and her cherished rescue dogs and cat. A longtime resident of Kenilworth, IL; Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands; and Bonita Springs, FL, she was the daughter of the late Inez and Dr. Armand DeRosa and sister of the late Laura Plewes.

Rita graduated from Abbot Academy (now Phillips Academy Andover) in Andover, MA and from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL with a Bachelor of Music in concert piano. She performed as Miss Music on the children's TV show, Romper Room, and enjoyed a lifelong love of classical music. She studied photography and became a published photojournalist and was a dedicated wildlife conservationist and animal rescue advocate.

While at Northwestern, she met and later married her late husband Robert L. Kallman of Kenilworth and Manhattan with whom she had a son, Robert. She is survived by her son and nieces Karen (Aimée Levine) Magee and Linda (James) Valentino and great-nephews Justin and Alexander, and her beloved cousin Dr. Carlo DeRosa and his wife Becca.

Rita was a natural beauty photographed by Carmen Schiavone and Victor Skrebneski. She served as President of Mannequin Guild Charities and volunteered with several community service and arts programs. She was a member of the Exmoor Country Club and was a champion curler.

She will be most remembered for her loving heart, generous spirit, and commitment to the welfare of dogs, cats, horses, and other animals. She was a founder of ARC, an all-volunteer dog and cat rescue on Virgin Gorda responsible for the spay, neuter, veterinary care, and adoption of several hundred stray island dogs and cats, and she supported and volunteered at a horse rescue in Naples.

She carried this poem by Emily Dickinson with her at all times and throughout her life was a shining light of kindness, compassion, service, and grace.

If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain

At her request, no services will be held.

Donations in her memory may be sent payable to Animal Rescue Corps Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands care of Ramona Van Steinberg, U.S. mailing address PO Box 304039, St. Thomas, USVI 00803