Margaret Doane Calvert

Margaret Doane Calvert, "Peggy" to all who knew her, passed peacefully in her sleep surrounded by those closest to her the evening of December 29, 2021. Peggy was born Margaret Aiken Doane on August the 11th of 1932 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Foster Baird "Bic" Doane and Marie Louise Grabowsky Doane. Following a move to Chicago and after her mothers early passing, she became extremely close with her new stepmother Sandra Davis Doane of New York City, whom she adored more as an older sister and friend than as a mother. With her father, brother Dick, and Sandy she then embarked on a journey that eventually led to a scenic hilltop ranch near Bandera, Texas. From there, she attended Saint Marys Hall in San Antonio as a boarder from middle school through her sophomore year of high school. She finished her high school studies at Abbott Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. It was during her time at Abbott that she met, while on summer break in Port Aransas, Richard Calvert, whom she would date throughout her college years (he at Princeton and she at the University of Texas in Austin). They would marry only four hours after his college graduation in the Princeton University chapel and they would remain married for the next sixty-seven years until her recent passing, with her devoted "Richy" still by her side.

Shortly after their wedding, Peggy followed her new husband on a two-year adventure and travel-filled U.S. Army posting in Germany before returning to San Antonio to begin raising their two children, Karen and Toby. Once the children were on firm paths, Peggy re-focused her efforts back to her true love creating beautiful art. She added depth to her University of Texas fine art degree skill set with life-drawing classes at Trinity University, led by Phil Evett, and classes at the McNay Museums San Antonio Art Institute. As an artist painting with oils on large-format canvas, she was passionate, self-critical, dedicated and persistent. To Peggy, only the most vibrant color palette of sunset oranges, purples, reds and greens were to be used. Her work simply screamed happiness and freedom of expression, and many people in San Antonio and around the country continue to be warmed to the core by her work. Peggy pursued her craft and continued to show her art until health issues intervened over the last few years.

She was a friend to many in so many walks of life and was able to relate to anyone on most any level to children, from the homeless, recovering alcoholics all the way to company CEOs and University presidents. She made a difficult but courageous choice when she decided to follow her passions, rather than to be a corporate spouse, PTA mom or community organizer. And our lives are richer for that choice. She taught us its fine to sometimes say, "who cares?" when asked the time, and that its certainly OK to eat dessert first. She taught us perseverance with her often-repeated motto of "fake it till you make it", and that Orange Flip is most definitely a primary color. For Peggy, sunsets were to be savored, much like the most beautiful one we witnessed the very evening she passed. Most importantly, she taught us the meaning of unconditional love.

Peggy is survived by the love of her life for over 67 years Richard Worcester Calvert, her brother Richard Trowbridge Doane, her two children Karen Baird Calvert and Tobin Rice Calvert, her daughter-in-law Emma Goetting Calvert and her two much-adored granddaughters Lillian Foster "Lilly" Calvert and Margaret Leigh "Rita" Calvert, as well as by her nieces Sonya Doane Tatum (husband Larry) and Sherry Lynn Doane. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Elizabeth "Bett" Loftis Calvert along with numerous Calvert, Fitzsimons, Massari and Doerr nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews who loved her dearly and will miss her "Ommms" around the campfire.

The family would like to express our deepest appreciation to Dr. Fernando Lopez and his staff for their medical care over these past months, to her long-time friend and steadfast supporter and prayer leader Mary Canseco and to her tireless caregivers these last six months Angela Servin and Tiffany King. We would also like to express our gratitude to the staff at Hospice of San Antonio for their wonderful attention to detail and endless patience.

A celebration of Peggys life will be held at a time when conditions allow for a true celebration of her life with her many friends and loved ones. When the time comes, those attending who choose to wear black, gray or white will be asked to please keep to the rear!

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Trinity Universitys Doane/Calvert Scholarship Fund for Art, Art History, and History or to the Peggy and Richard Calvert Endowed Scholarship Fund for Art at UTSA.