Ronnie Califano

Ronnie Califano, 72, passed away on August 20th, 2021. She was born and raised in The Bronx, NY, by her loving parents, Gloria and Arthur Charton. Her early years in The Bronx, were accompanied by summers in the Catskills with family and friends.

It was at Gray Advertising in New York City, where she met and fell in love with her husband, Arthur Califano. They married in 1972, and had a daughter and a son together. They moved to Montclair, NJ in 1979 to raise their children. When her husband passed away, Ronnie went back to work at the Montclair Kimberly Academy (MKA). She would spend the next 25 years working at MKA, and truly cherished relationships with her colleagues, parents, and especially the students. Everyone loved Mrs. Califano, and she loved them.

Ronnie was very active in her community and had a real zeal for life. Whether playing Mah Jong, taking tap dance lessons, or going to see theater shows in NYC with her family and friends. She was a fierce competitor on the tennis courts and loved to travel.

The most important part of Ronnie’s life was her family. She was a true matriarch whose love and support were evident to everyone around her. Ronnie’s grandchildren provided her with infinite joy, love, and happiness. Never will there be a day that goes by when Ronnie is not remembered with fondness, kindness, and love. As said by everyone who knew her, Ronnie was simply the best. She will be missed forever.

Ronnie is survived by daughter Sarah McAneney and her husband Tom, son Jayme Califano and his wife Elizabeth; grandchildren Abby and Colin McAneney, and Holden and Maren Califano; her sister Carol Kirsch and husband Jerry.