Liz and John Calvert Memorial Service Announced
A memorial service for former Converse Trustee Liz White Calvert ’84 and her husband, John, will be held Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Northside United Methodist Church (2799 Northside Drive, NW) in Atlanta, GA.
In lieu of flowers, the families are requesting contributions be made to two scholarship funds that have been established to honor the lives of Liz and John (see information below). “Because Liz and John had such love and passion for and commitment to their alma maters, and to the value of higher education, these endowed scholarships will provide students at Converse College and Georgia Tech funds to support their ongoing education,” said Liz’s brother, David White.
The Calverts were reported missing in March, 2008. An extensive investigation and search was conducted for months following their disappearance, and recently a judge declared the couple deceased.
“Members of the Converse family have heavy hearts as we bring closure to this arduous investigation and search for Liz and John,” said Converse President Betsy Fleming. “The Calverts are greatly missed by all who knew and loved them, but their contributions to their communities, their alma maters, and our greater world live on and will benefit others for generations to come. Liz was an accomplished, career-minded professional who served as a positive role model for Converse students. She was passionate about her Converse experience and gave much of herself to advance this College. It is most fitting that we celebrate her life and honor her memory with a scholarship fund to afford future students the same educational opportunity that Liz treasured.”
Liz was an accomplished business attorney, specializing in employee benefits and executive compensation with Hunter Maclean in Savannah, GA. She previously was a vice president for UPS, where she managed the labor and employment group for the legal department, and as senior manager for employee benefit services at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. She was a former member of the Board of Directors of the Atlas Foundation.
Liz joined the Converse Board of Trustees in 2004 and served as a member of Converse’s strategic planning committee to develop the plan that was launched in 2007. Liz and John were founding members of the Converse Board of Visitors and Liz previously served on the Converse Alumnae Board and as alumnae club chair for the Atlanta area. Liz faithfully supported Converse with gifts for numerous programs and initiatives, and opened her home to host alumnae events and student groups.. She was quoted in a Converse publication saying, “Converse was such a key part of my personal development. I gained a first-rate education, life-long friendships, and the confidence to pursue a legal career. I owe this to my time at Converse, so it seems very natural to stay involved.”
A member of the Class of 1984 and recipient of the Spirit of Converse Award, Liz double majored in math and politics at Converse and was a student-athlete. She was an active student leader, serving on the student newspaper and yearbook, as member of the service organization Crescent, as president of the Athletic Association, and as a member of the senior honor society Mortar Board, among others.