Rose Calvano

CALVANO, ROSE
Our beautiful artist, sister, mother, and friend died unexpectedly on January 27, 2008. She was a light in all our lives. Her generosity, kindness, compassion and love were witnessed in her lovely poetry, oil and watercolor paintings, photography and intaglio prints. Her passionate commitment to art as a voice of beauty and justice animated her life. Her dramatic photos of bi-racial spouses and their children were acclaimed in an exhibit titled "Love Across the Lines." Her work for social justice centered around very low-income children whose parents are members of the Supportive Parents Information Network (SPIN), a nonprofit organization in San Diego. "Rosie," as she was known to all the children, taught them how to draw in pastels, and then coaxed from them their artistic depictions of the hardships they faced as well as their hopes and dreams. The children's work, titled, "Through the Eyes of Children: Lives in Poverty," was exhibited throughout San Diego County, most recently for three months at Kellogg Library at California State University San Marcos. Rosie also co-authored and helped stage a reader's theatre titled, "Hold My Ladder, Please!" presented by SPIN children, based on their own experiences of poverty. She had a gift of making children feel valuable and important for their inner gifts; she made them understand that in sharing their gifts, they would grow stronger and also help thousands of economically disadvantaged children who had no voice. Rosie is survived by her children, Michael Calvano, Dwight Phillips, and Misty Phillips; her grandchildren, Tierra Rose, Dwight, and Tiana Phillips; her sisters and brother, Jeanne Calvano, Rita Calvano Smith, Joni Halpern, Sam Calvano, and Christine Calvano, and their families. You will always be in our hearts, Rosie, where you continue to nourish our greatest hopes and dreams. Services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, February 9, 2008, at the Ocean Beach Women's Club, 2160 Bacon St., San Diego, CA 92107. Those who wish to support Rosie's work with children may make donations to the Supportive Parents Information Network, 2717 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92104.Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com