Sue Stover

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.

Alice Joan “Jo” White

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

Information for Jo's wake, visitation and funeral:

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

Man of Letters, Charlie Hughes, Rest in Peace

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.

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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