Olinda Andrade Calista ’54

Olinda Andrade Calista ’54, of Worcester, Mass., formerly of Rumford, R.I.; Feb. 10, of Parkinson’s disease. She continued working towards a master’s degree at Rhode Island College while working as an elementary school teacher in East Providence. She believed in educational equity and was a volunteer for many years with Literacy Volunteers of America, assisting English Language Learners to read and write. Throughout her life she experienced medical challenges, yet did so with dignity and a quiet elegance, always wanting to be productive and contribute to the well-being of her family and others. She was active in the R.I. Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association. It was her wish to make an anatomical donation (her brain) for the advancement of Parkinson’s Disease research. In 2016, she moved to Worcester to be closer to her daughter and was welcomed by the Briarwood Community, where she actively participated in life and ongoing learning. She is survived by a daughter, two sisters, two sisters-in-law, an aunt, and a cousin.