Claire Kalin Savitt

Married to her best friend, Dick Savitt for 62 years, Claire and Dick lived in Miami since 1977, where they raised three children: Jordan (Dina), Jill (Alexander), and Scott (Amy).

Claire was born and raised in Hendersonville, NC, the beloved daughter of Morris and Leah Kalin. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (then called Women's College), Claire met Dick who attended University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. They married in Hendersonville in 1963 and then lived in New York and New Jersey before moving to Miami.

Claire's empathy and compassion led her to get a Master's degree in Social Work from Barry College. She became a family counsellor, specializing in a range of issues and helping families surviving incest. She was also a board member of NAMI, an organization devoted to using the arts to support people living with mental illness.

Combining these interests, Claire opened an art gallery, Gallery of the Eccentric, which primarily featured untrained artists and folk art. Claire became a leader in the Coral Gables arts community. Her love of theater led her to become the prop mistress at Gables Stage, where she worked on dozens of productions.

Claire's compassion and humor live on in her seven grandchildren: Emily (Shaun), Paige (Eric), Jackson, Max, Dylan, Bowie and Grace.

A celebration of life will be held at Temple Judea on May 4 at 2 p.m. where the family will receive friends. Donations in Claire's honor may be made to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, GA.