The first woman to serve on Palmerton Borough Council.

Secretary for both the AFL-CIO Union for the New Jersey Zinc Company and for the Palmerton Zinc Company.

President of the Palmerton Citizens for a Clean Environment.

Louise Calvin, who blazed a trail for women, died Monday at age 81.

Quality and precision

Susan Olivia, Louise’s sister, described Calvin as a “deep thinker and organized planner.”

“When situations would come up in either the family or the community, she would ponder all sides, consider all consequences, and then try to come up with the step-by-step way in which the outcome could be the best,” Olivia said. “She felt that when there are problems, you should step up and be part of the solution.”

Olivia added, “She was meticulous. She strived for quality and precision.”

Olivia recounted that in the late 1970s, senior citizens could get a state rebate on property taxes.

“The forms were probably overwhelming to them,” she said. “She helped dozens of residents file out the forms as a service to them.”

Olivia said the saying, “Think globally, act locally” was one of her favorite sayings.

“She strongly supported the Palmerton Library, many local charities, and fundraising groups,” Olivia said.

Former borough Manager Rodger Danielson worked with Calvin during her tenure on borough council.

“I always enjoyed working with Louise,” Danielson said. “She was very community-oriented.”

Danielson added, “She will absolutely be missed.”

“She always approached things with respect for whoever she was dealing with,” he said. “And you felt that when you talked to her, regardless of any differences, I always felt warmly treated when we worked together.”

Barry Scherer, who served on borough council with Calvin, said her heart was always in the right place.

“She was very concerned about the well-being of the residents of the borough, and the condition of the borough,” Scherer said.

Native of Palmerton

Calvin graduated from Palmerton High School in 1960 and continued her education as a business major at Shippensburg University.

She worked as a secretary for both the AFL-CIO Union for the New Jersey Zinc Company and for the Palmerton Zinc Company. When the zinc company closed, she began a career as a Prudential Insurance agent until her retirement.

Calvin was actively involved in community activities, having served two terms as the first councilwoman on Palmerton Borough Council.

Calvin also served as treasurer for the Palmerton Bloodmobile for many years.

In the mid-1990s, she became active with Palmerton Citizens for a Clean Environment, a grassroots environmental organization addressing issues related to hazardous waste and Superfund cleanup in the borough, and served as president of the nonprofit organization for several years.

Her obituary appears on page 4.