Gloria M. Calhoun's Obituary
of Miami, Florida, a loving mother, environmentalist, political & creative stalwart of the community, and devoted friend to many died on November 13th, 2008. Gloria visited Miami with her family from Wisconsin as a teenager and made Miami her home with her mother while attending Garland College in Boston where she graduated "Cum Laude." Gloria continued her education in New York at The New York Academy of Dramatic Arts where she excelled as a budding actress. Her credits included summer stock, a lead ingénue role in a Broadway play which caught the attention of Twentieth Century Fox. Back in Miami, Gloria married, raised a family and became involved with the Junior League through which she became a panelist and a Host on the long running television show, "A Wiser World." Gloria's love for So. Florida's unique tropical environs led her to become involved with The Audubon Society which opened a door to the Environmental issues that she became so passionate about, which opened another door into Politics which in turn, spearheaded her into being the first woman to run for Mayor of the City of Miami back in the early '70's. Throughout the years, Gloria was also very involved with Vizcaya and served as Director of the Board of Vizcayans from the mid '70's through the early '80's. Gloria had an incredible eye and her own distinctive sense of style. Her homes were a reflection of this and were featured in newspapers, magazines and books. She had a talent for versatility and worked as an Interior Designer in the hospitality and residential fields for over 25 years. Among her varied projects, she was a Project Designer for the original restoration of the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. Her grace and elegance and love of all things beautiful was a reflection of her inner soul and like her designs, Gloria left a beautiful impression on those she met and knew. Gloria was predeceased all too soon by her son, Patrick Given Calhoun of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and is survived by her daughter, Gloriana M. Calhoun of New York, NY and former husband Mike Calhoun, of Blountstown, FL. A service will be held on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables, 536 Coral Way, Coral Gables, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gloria's name to Bay Oaks, 435 NE 34th St., Miami, FL 33137
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