Selma Blanche (Dewey) Calnan

Selma Calnan died Friday, June 3, 2022, at the Community Hospital of Anaconda.

Selma Dewey Calnan was born in Madison, Wisconsin on June 9, 1924. Educated at University of Wisconsin and Cal State Los Angeles, induction into Kappa Delta Pi, honors in education. She moved to California in 1947 and began her working career at Cal Tech’s Guggenheim Aeronautical Lab aka the wind tunnel.

Married John Calnan in 1949 and together they had four children. She returned to school and earned her teaching credential when she became the primary breadwinner after John suffered a disabling back injury. Selma was a Special Education teacher, published poet, awarded, and anthologized; a Congressional Aid, ghost writer; political consultant and newspaper columnist. For fun she was a docent at the Workman Temple Homestead in Southern California. A lifelong lover of words her game of choice was Scrabble. And one of her favorite haunts was Hurst Library.

She is survived by her sons Raymond, David, John and daughter Maureen Pride and her grandson Matthew Pride. Her nieces Carla Dewey Heslin, Diana Dewey Husband and nephew Thomas Dewey. And a multitude of friends.