Even while dying, Calderone-Stewart keeps program alive

By Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: April 14, 2010 |(10) Comments

In January, when Lisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart nominated one of the youth leaders from her House of Peace mentoring group to receive a volunteer award, she didn't expect to see him win.

It wasn't because she doubted Arthur Cameron deserved the honor. She thought she would be dead.

Perhaps her survival - now a month beyond the six-month prognosis delivered in August - served as a testament to the mental and physical benefits of volunteering that speakers touted during the Volunteer Center of Milwaukee awards luncheon Wednesday.

It certainly added poignancy to Cameron's own acceptance speech pledge "to make it a lifestyle."

Though weakened by the cancer attacking her bile ducts, Calderone-Stewart beamed when talking about the young man poised to carry on her own mission of leading others to do good works. It's what she has done for most of her 52 years, as a swim coach in Alabama, then a leader of Catholic Youth Ministries in Milwaukee and creator of the Tomorrow's Present program.

She started the mentoring and youth leadership training effort while working with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, then moved it to the House of Peace when her job was eliminated in 2001. With no salary, she raised the money to support the effort through grants and donations.

Calderone-Stewart devoted much of her energy to keeping the program alive, even after a cancer diagnosis in August announced her own death.

Without a hint of bitterness or remorse, she remained only positive. She is happy that a fund drive in her name will keep the program intact. She relishes the time to say goodbye and the success of her youths.

"This way of dying has almost been the best part of my life," she said. "I'm delighted that my death can bring life to Tomorrow's Present."

Cameron, 17, earned his Inspire by Example award through his work as a mentor in the teen leadership program. The award was one of six presented at the 28th annual Volunteer Celebration.

Joy Alexander, volunteer administrator from the Salvation Army of Greater Milwaukee, and Rockwell Automation were among the award recipients honored during the ceremony in the Italian Community Center.

As one of 16 teen leaders, Cameron devotes himself to 100 hours of training each year, service work with the Special Olympics. He mentors other youths in conflict resolution and peacemaking and tutors middle school students in academics.

"He's definitely a natural leader, but if you had seen him his freshman year, you wouldn't have thought so," Calderone-Stewart said. "He's funny as well as smart; incredibly humble.

"He's a real servant and always looking out for what needs to be done."

No one spoke of Calderone-Stewart's illness during the awards presentations, but many of the remarks seemed to emanate from her spirit.

Rebecca Williams, honored for her work with the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, talked of being inspired and enriched by the knowledge she could help others.

Michelle Crockett, recipient of the Fran Swigart Board Leadership Award, told the crowd of 450 that she had been inspired by other volunteers to adopt the mind-set, "I am the difference."

And John Hahn, from the South East Wisconsin Master Gardeners, offered this aphorism: "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."

Before being helped to a car, Calderone-Stewart sat and explained that the cancer in her liver didn't respond to chemotherapy and would soon destroy her last bile duct. Her body will weaken and lose the ability to fight toxins.

"That's when I'll get very sick, fairly fast," she said.

When it happens, she can be assured that her rent has been paid in full.