Virginia Kalb - a beautiful person, inside and out
Born in mid-depression in central New Jersey, she is the eldest of three sisters. Sister Elizabeth is 6 ½ years younger and Mary came along 2 years later. They remain extremely close and best friends through thick and thin.
Her mother was a teacher, and during her early years, her father worked at whatever was available. Shortly after WWII began, her Dad went to work for the Department of Agriculture as an inspector at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, moving the family to Flushing, in the New York Borough of Queens, where they remained for her growing-up years. She met husband John early in her freshman year of college in upstate New York. On the first date, he said ”he was going to marry me”. They celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary prior to his death in 2014. He was her one true soul mate.
In 1962 the family moved to San Francisco during a very exciting time of hippies, sit-ins, civic protests, and drugs but eventually made Fountain Valley their home and raised their two sons.
Virginia became hooked on travel after her first trip to Europe in 1973. She and John traveled far, wide and long – Europe, Galapagos Islands, Australia, Swaziland, New Zealand, Mediterranean, Hawaiian Islands, and most of the US states.
Virginia’s professional life started after her stay-at-home phase and she established herself as a district librarian of a large urban elementary school, mentor and instructor for fieldwork students in Library Services at CSLA, and finally coordinator of Media Services at district level. Many awards and accolades were given to Virginia but the most meaningful was an Honorary Lifetime Membership in the CA School Library Association.
In 2020, at the beginning of COVID-19, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Surgery removed a lower lobe, and a difficult recovery began but all markers were clear and optimism prevailed. Her younger son arrived from his home in Thailand to care for her. COVID-19 restrictions prevented Tom from returning to Thailand for more than two years. About a year after the first diagnosis, Virginia’s lung cancer returned. She opted to begin chemotherapy to slow the progression. She refused to let cancer slow her down or change her basic life philosophy – live to the fullest.
Virginia Kalb is whip smart, kind, funny, compassionate, well-read, an accomplished chef, and peace maker. She nurtures friendships with all, is articulate and passionate about issues that include helping the less fortunate, volunteers for philanthropic organizations, donates generously to causes she cares deeply about like Comforts for Cancer. She has been through devastating events in the past decade – the death of her soul mate John, both sons lost way to early, her cancer diagnosis twice-and yet, she remains optimist, realistic, curious, supportive, kind, and nurturing of others. She enjoys classical music, good books, great food and wine, travel, new experiences, friendships and has a wicked sense of humor. She never dwells on her diagnosis but instead choses to live life to the fullest, helping others, eating, drinking, enjoying activities each day…she is an inspiration to all who know her. Virginia demonstrates to others how to live with dignity, compassion, humor even during the most challenging of times.
Virgina turned 87 in April and her life is a textbook on how to “get it right”.
Thanks to Connie Wadsley for providing our Warrior Profile of Virginia. We at Comforts for Cancer are honored to call you both friends and we thank you for all you do.