Jean Elizabeth Calvert

1938 - 2021

Jean Elizabeth Calvert
June 4, 1938 - June 23, 2021
Santa Cruz
"Life should be fun, and it was."
Jean was born on an auspicious day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From that day forward, she brought oodles of joy into the lives of her family, friends, and generations of students.
In 1963, Jean settled in Santa Cruz, California, where she taught English to multiple generations of children at Branciforte Middle School. It was impossible for Jean to walk down a street in Santa Cruz without someone calling out. "Ms. Calvert! Remember me? You were one of my favorite teachers!" And, more often than not, that same person would add "...and you also taught my daughter/son, and you were their favorite teacher too!" Even when she traveled across the United States or internationally, she often ran into someone who knew her, inevitably with stories to tell about how she had positively impacted their lives.
In addition to being a beloved sister/aunt/friend/teacher, she was an avid adventurer. Despite being born legally blind, she kayaked, skied, whitewater rafted, painted in locations across multiple continents, and even mountain climbed, inspiring everyone she met.
Not only did Jean know how to live, she knew how to play. She often brought stuffed animals and other inanimate objects to life with silly voices and antics, especially for her nieces and nephews, sometimes getting them into trouble—which was even more fun! Take that one incident, for example, where the pet rabbit was playing on the table in a restaurant (no, silly, not a real rabbit, a stuffed rabbit), getting rambunctious with two of Jean's nephews. A fork sat idly on a plate next to them with an enormous piece of Jell-O on it (yes, you see it coming now, don't you?). As soon as that fork got bumped, the Jell-O went flying through the air and into the next booth, sending everyone, especially Jean, into a fit of giggles. Luckily, like most everyone Jean encountered, the occupants of the next booth also doubled over with laughter. With Jean as the rabble-rouser, how could they not?
Jean died peacefully in her sleep and is survived by her brother, Bob Calvert (Carol), six nieces and nephews: Kathy Calvert, Linda Archibald (Jim), Donna Jordan (Matthew), Rob Calvert (Katie), Sarah Snider (Kevin), and Ted Calvert (Dominique), and by many great and great-great nieces and nephews, as well as by numerous friends: Leslie Mason, Hazel and Jeffrey Powell, Bobbi Carriker,...Oh. My. Goodness—way too many friends to name; perhaps the right word here is: EVERYONE!
Jean stated she did not want a memorial service, but that celebrating her life and spirit by raising a glass in her honor, cheering a San Francisco Giants home run or 49ers touchdown, crafting a clever pun, or enjoying time spent with loved ones—she'd be all for that!


View the online memorial for Jean Elizabeth Calvert