Jean (Calhoun) Royster

On March 5th, 2025, beloved mother and grandmother Jean Calhoun Royster, 86, passed away peacefully at home with her daughter by her side. Born on July 2, 1938, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Jean was the daughter of Grace Carlsen Calhoun and James Albert Calhoun. She grew up alongside her brothers James Jr. and Raymond and close neighbors who were like family.

Jean’s fondest memories were of her childhood in Bridgeport, spent at Success Park and Pleasure Beach, and of her 40+ years living and raising her children in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts. She fondly recalled swimming, skating, and feeding the ducks at Crystal Lake, shopping at the A&P long before it became Whole Foods, and volunteering at the Outgrown Shop in the Hyde School basement.

Jean dedicated more than two decades of her career as a bookkeeper at Brimmer and May School, where her meticulous work, dedication, and friendly disposition were deeply valued. Beyond her professional life, she found joy in music, traveling, gardening, reading, and spending time with her many friends, and her forever sidekick, her daughter. Jean’s warmth, kindness and optimism touched all who knew her, and her wisdom and strength of character was a guiding light to all those around her. 

Jean’s proudest moment was securing the country’s highest civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal, for her father, a Tuskegee Airman 2nd Lieutenant, who was killed in World War 2 in the line of duty.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert Smith Royster, whom she met on a blind date; they celebrated 50 years of marriage shortly before Bob’s passing in 2017. She is survived by her daughter Dawn (Kenneth Renzoni); her cherished granddaughters Carden, Shane, and Layton, their mother Tanisha and their father.

Visiting hour on Wednesday March 12, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm in the Maguire Chapel at St. Joseph Cemetery, 990 Lagrange St. West Roxbury. A prayer service will be held in the Chapel at 1:00 pm. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.