Felicia was a long-time member of the Colleagues. She served as our librarian for many years.
Felicia died on November 10, 2020.
If anyone would like to provide more details of her involvement with the Colleagues, please email webmaster@colleaguesofcalligraphy.com.
Thank you to Diane for contributing the newspaper clipping. Please visit www.srtfuneral.com for more information on services.
October 30, 2020
Visit members and friends stories
We want our members and calligraphic friends to be aware that one of our Colleagues of Calligraphy founding members, Jean Heidenreich, passed away October 30, 2020.
The following are initial reflections several COC members shared about our dear friend, Jean. Please add YOUR memories and thoughts in the Comment area below.
Please note: Comments may not be visible immediately. If you would like to submit a photograph, please attach to an email to: webmaster@colleaguesofcalligraphy.com
From Diane von Arx Anderson:
Contributed by Diane - Jean in 2o09
As with any major undertaking of the Colleagues, Jean Heidenreich was always part of it as she was an independent and intelligent thinker and a generous and deliberate contributor to the conversation. In fact, I think I could safely say that when it came to COC projects, workshops and participations, Jean Heidenreich was ubiquitous.
I first met Jean before the Colleagues even existed, she was a fellow student in the Calligraphy class that we were both taking from Linda Christensen at MCAD in 1971-1972. Several years later, Jean was among those of us who became founding members of Colleagues and I believe she was one of the very first presenters at a monthly meeting, giving us an overview of Greeting Card Design. Over the many years we had annual exhibitions, I recall she was a perennial exhibitor and often on the committee helping to organize and make it all happen.
She was there and participated in our Calligraphy Connections that we hosted. For many years Jean was one of the group of Old Hands who, in the earlier years, attended all of the annual international conferences and brought back lots of useful 'morsels' to generously share with the membership. She authored articles for our SIGNATURE publication and was an integral part of any significant milestone we have celebrated. She very much contributed to the growth and strength of our COC organization as a teacher in our Twin Cities area for so many years.
Her involvement in other local organizations included being a part of the prestigious Art’s committee of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church. In that capacity, she was positioned to invite a number of our COC members to create works for their impressive permanent collection. Thereby educating the public and a wider audience of the value and variety of work that can and should be a part of any worthwhile, contemporary art collection.
We will miss her ready smile, her sparkling eyes and that keen, dry humor of hers. Rest well my fellow scribe, you are, and will be, fondly remembered and greatly missed.
From Janey Westin:
The Colleagues has lost one of our dear founding members, who contributed greatly to fellow calligraphers and the arts. I will miss her warm "hello" and friendship at meetings and other get-togethers. Such sad news.
From Katie Berry:
Jean was my very first friend in the CoC. While attending my first workshop (about 1980), she invited me to have lunch with her and that was the beginning of a friendship that endured for over 40 years. I will miss her more than I can say.
Images contributed by Katie - left to right:
At St. John’s university near her legendary, secret inhabitant at calligraphy conferences. Jean attended nearly every conference and for many of those years, she would bring Ima Gnome, set it up and leave it for the attendees to find. For YEARS no one knew who was behind this fun surprise activity.
At the Minnesota Renaissance Festival where Jean spent decades working with me and Kris MacDonald.
At 2001: A Calligraphic Odyssey, prior to our 2002: Calligraphy Connection
From Lynn Ohlhorst:
It is so hard to come up with just the right words to say about our friend Jean. She shared her love of life and lettering with us in many ways. She helped start our organization and participated in so many ways throughout the years. She taught us; she shared with us; she guided us.
For several summers I sat next to Jean at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival as we lettered bookmarks for visitors. She was ever so meticulous and would not be rushed in spite of the lines of folks wanting their bookmarks next!
We shared the title of being a “Reggie Survivor” as we made it through an early year-long class from Reggie Ezell. (Actually, Jean took 2 of these!) Our follow-up study group continues to meet every other month. Sure enough, Jean was at our September meeting on zoom – sitting in her kitchen. Jean, we miss you.
Images contributed by Judy White Jaffee- left to right:
June, 2017 at a brunch for Jo at Saint John’s
Southwest Scribes in Jean’s beautiful backyard garden in July 2017
Images contributed by Erin Dung - left to right:
2015 - Jean shares some of her work from Carla Sonheim’s Imaginary Animals workshop at the Midwest Art and Lettering Retreat.
2016 - Jean at the Colleagues’ 40th Anniversary Banquet.
Image above: Created and submitted by Gerry Nichols (you can read her comment below). Gerry created this to share with Jean.
From Judy Dodds:
I have had the joy of knowing Jean for many years. We shared many hours and days in classes and meetings for Colleagues of Calligraphy and national calligraphy conferences. Reggie Ezell's classes, first for 1 year and then for 6 months grew into 30+ years of meeting as Reggie survivors. We demonstrated side by side as scribes at the Renaissance Festival.
The twinkle in her eyes, her smile, wit and humor and her zest for life and learning accompanied her every place. I was always impressed with her creative adventures in calligraphy as well as watercolor and clay. I admired her attention to detail, her thoroughness and thoughtfulness in tackling her projects. Jean, because of you, my heart is smiling in remembering you and lonely in missing you.
Image contributed by Judy Dodds: 1989 - Maxine and Jean
Header image - from a class, "See your name in Lights," that Jean and Eve Brown offered in 2017.
Long-time light hearted, generous friend and enthusiastic Colleague Sue Stover has passed away after a long battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held at the Edina Country Club on Saturday, April 28 at 11:00a.m.
Members have shared fond memories of Sue after her passing: Sue was the treasurer for the first two Saint John’s Calligraphy Connections (1981 and 1984) and worked closely with Jo White, Bev Hunnicutt, and others on the Connection executive steering committee. She is remembered for her good sense of humor, being smart and trustworthy, and always providing genuine and valuable input into discussions and situations. She was a good friend and a loyal Colleagues member who devoted countless hours to the organization in sometimes very quiet ways. A member of the Colleagues Portfolio Group, Sue calligraphed memorable work, including a striking embossed and lettered piece titled “Shadow” for one of our shows.
Sue was a member of the Southwest Social Scribes for many years, which included doing the all-important task of keeping their rosters and meeting information current for many years. Equally important and appreciated were the stand-out croutons she made for their salad luncheons.
Sue was multi-dimensional in her interests: she belonged to a group of French speakers, played Bridge, and traveled with her husband Bob to England and France. In later years she became interested in the paper engineering and books of Robert Sabuda, sending Sabuda cards every Christmas. Sue did a lot of dimensional paper folding and taught the Southwest Social Scribes a few paper tricks.
Sue loved Scandinavian design and decorated her home in that style. Her husband had a local silversmith make her many beautiful pieces of original Scandinavian silver jewelry. She took many silversmithing classes through the Edina Art Center. An example of how she married her love of metal work and calligraphy was her creation of an enviable necklace from cutout Neuland style letters.
Sue was also a member of the Edina Federated Women’s Club, served on its board, and used her calligraphy skills to letter signage and certificates for the organization’s public events and awards.
Sue will be missed and remembered by her letter-loving community of friends. Please join in sharing your memories, and if you have a good photo, please send it to images@colleaguesofcalligraphy.com.
Jo at the 40th Anniversary celebration
One does not need to have known Jo White closely, or at all, honestly, to know, feel, and understand her stature as a bedrock founder and leader of the Colleagues of Calligraphy, inspiring so many in our common love of our beautiful craft.
We published a profile of Jo on our website last summer. It describes the wonderful event at which Jo was awarded the St. John's University President's Medal for her role as the "Mother of The Saint John's Bible." It gives insight into Jo as wife and mother, as well as the formidable driving force in helping to bring The Saint John's Bible to life.
What we do here now, however, is to share what we have known and loved and appreciated about Jo as our friend, fellow calligrapher, and guild leader/member.
My interactions with Jo were not many, but always memorable, over the past 6 years. I was a grateful recipient of our scholarship named for her, however, so I always made it a point to express my gratitude to her when I saw her.
That scholarship year was pivotal for my growth as a calligrapher, and she always sparkled when I told her so. That's my fondest memory of her: seeing how it tickled her to know the huge difference the scholarship made to me. She would give my hands an extra tight squeeze, look intently with her stunning baby blues into my eyes and say, "Great! Great! I'm so glad to hear that, good for you!"
When I became President, she winked and said to me, "Now that's a job!" After a brief pause, she then quickly added her gratitude for my service, with an assurance that I would "do great!" Funny, when Jo White expresses such confidence, the bar is somehow raised even higher, leaving one feeling buoyed and affirmed, if not simultaneously all the more intimidated by the challenge! I treasure that example of the care, good humor, and moral authority this great woman possessed.
We would love for you all to share your remembrances of Jo in the comments below. How lucky and blessed we all were to know, or be benefit from the spirit of Jo, a bright twinkling star in our midst.
In sadness,
Maura Lynch
President
Wake: Sunday 4-7 p.m. at Carondelet Village Chapel
525 Fairview Avenue South
St. Paul, MN 55116
Another visitation before funeral mass Monday 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. (address below)
Funeral mass at 11 a.m. at 'Our Lady of the Presentation' next door to Carondelet
1880 Randolph Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
Luncheon to follow downstairs in dining room under the Presentation Church
Burial following the luncheon at Credit River Cemetery (Scott County)
17491 Texas Avenue
Credit River, MN 55372
Our wonderful friend, and calligrapher, Brenda Broadbent, passed away on November 18, 2017.
As the original creator and owner of Paper and Ink Books, she was known to thousands of conference attendees, including specialized calligraphy gathering like IAMPETH. Both teachers and students depended upon her expertise as a supplier, encourager and friend. Paper and Ink Arts (as it is called now) is very active and as a business, it continues to serve a worldwide lettering arts customer base. Brenda has been fondly remembered by her sense of humor and kindness. She will be greatly missed.
Blog Post Update (Sunday, March 12, 2017) by Maura Lynch:
Here are Janey Westin's details for the upcoming memorial service for Charlie Hughes:
Saturday, March 25th 2:00 p.m.
Lakewood Cemetery Chapel
3600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
Attire of jeans and happy colors is requested. If you have something calligraphic to wear, all the better! This will be a celebration of Charlie's life, of which letters were a huge part.
To view the obituary, click here.
To read a lovely Star Tribune memorial profile about "the artist behind classic fonts and logos" click here.
Original post (January 31, 2017) by Maura Lynch:
Every so often we are lucky enough in life to know a man who by all accounts is so well-loved by everyone who meets him.
Who is caring and modest and interested in others. Who is a gentleman. Who is devoted to his loving wife.
And who is dedicated to his craft. Who is talented, creative, innovative. Who is generous and giving. Who is humble.
Our now-departed dear member, Charlie Hughes, gave us all the opportunity to know such a man. Sadly, he passed away last Thursday.
We will miss him. And on behalf of our entire membership, I want his beloved wife, our colleague and friend, Janey Westin, to know this: we love and support you and wish you peace in this time of sadness at the loss of your dear Charlie.
I extend many thanks to Diane von Arx who, unbidden, created the beautiful remembrance at right.
I invite you to offer any comments in the box below. Also, please email Rebekah Anderson if you have any photos you wish to share and we will start a photo gallery here as well: vicepresident@colleaguesofcalligraphy.com
