We celebrated the life and mourned the passing of a great woman this past Saturday. Joan Dangel was a charter member of the Stitchers for St. Anthony. She just missed celebrating their 25th anniversary next month. She volunteered in the dining room every Wednesday. She was such a joyful, radiant, loving presence for us and our guests.

Her children and grandchildren told wonderful stories about her, but the one that really hit me came from a neighbor in Pacifica. Joan never learned to drive. Every Wednesday Joan would be standing at the bus stop to come and volunteer, usually holding a bag of donations for our guests. Even in the pouring rain she’d faithfully and patiently wait for the bus.

For all the poor and homeless mothers and their children she knit and sewed for, and for all the guests, volunteers, and staff she cheered with her presence, and for the devotion and compassion that lit her up like the sun, we give thanks.

May the Angels lead you into paradise:
may the Martyrs come to welcome you,
and take you to the holy city, Jerusalem.
May choirs of Angels welcome you,
and with Lazarus who is poor no longer
may you have eternal rest.

Monday, January 18th will mark this year’s National observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The annual remembrance of this inspiring, courageous man and his legacy has now come into its own tradition as a “call to service” for all Americans. Dr. King, in one of his famous quotations describes service as something we are all capable of: “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve…You don’t need to have a college degree to serve…you don’t need to make your subject and verb agree to serve…you only need a heart full of grace—a soul generated by love…”

We here at St. Anthony’s have just learned that one of our own inspiring and courageous volunteers has passed away, unexpectedly. Joan Dangel, a volunteer in the Dining Room for nearly 22 years, and an active member of the St. Anthony’s “Stitchers” for even longer, will be dearly remembered and missed! Her legacy and example of service however, will remain a living model of “…a heart full of grace—a soul generated by love…” Joan’s tools of service here at St. Anthony’s were a sewing needle and thread, as she worked with her talented “co-Stitchers” these many years making & repairing clothing for the children and adult clients of St. Anthony Foundation. A couple of other signature tools Joan used well were her trademark maroon “St. Anthony’s” Dining Room apron, embroidered with her name (as one of our long-term volunteers), and her characteristic comfy “fishing hat” brimming her friendly eyes and smile. Yes—a needle and thread, an apron and hat—but it was really what “powered” those tools that mattered most: Joan’s “heart full of grace”; Joan’s “soul generated by love”.

Thank you, Joan! Our prayers for your wonderful family; and our gratitude from all the many of us you made feel like family! May you be having joyful reunions & greetings with those gone before you: relatives, former St. Anthony volunteers and guests, perhaps even Dr. King himself! As we each here–volunteers, staff, guests & clients, friends—do our best to genuinely live out our own unique ways of service, your gentle and lasting commitment remains to encourage us all.

This picture ran in the Sunday, July 26th edition of the San Francisco Examiner.

Some years back now, I knew a wonderful “Grandma”–a Native American Indian Elder who told me “Francis (of Assisi) would’ve made a good Indian! He knew that all Nature was sacred and he knew how to talk with animals”. I imagine she would’ve recognized these same qualities in Fr. Floyd Lotito, OFM, beloved Franciscan Priest of St. Anthony Foundation for more than 40 years, who died this July 14th, 2009. I saw in Fr. Floyd’s obituary, that he’s descended on his Father’s side, from generations of Italian shepherds. You could say that Fr. Floyd was a “shepherd” in the priestley sense, but when he blessed the animals of San Francisco every October 4th (Francis’s Feast Day), he was also following in the literal shepherding heritage of his family. One of my first encounters with Father Floyd was at this very event in October 2000. Along with my 2 dogs, I joined the throngs of horses, dogs, cats, birds, snakes, guinea pigs, turtles, and human beings who gathered in front of St. Boniface Church, to receive the Fr. Floyd’s blessing…

…My early encounter was followed by many more, and most regularly, when we would have our weekend volunteer orientations. Fr. Floyd was almost always working in his office on Saturday and Sunday, and he would never miss a chance to drop in to welcome the new volunteers (and to enjoy a few tasty ginger snaps!). He spoke “human”, with generous accents of humor and faith, and I could sense the level of communication sinking in to a deeper level when he’d thank them and predict that they’d feel they were receiving more than they were giving (a sentiment that our volunteers confirm again and again)…

His absence is this regard, is just one of the countless reasons that we’re going to miss him dearly! But his 40 plus years of presence, thank goodness, remains.

The original “Wolf of Gubbio”–the real & ravenous wolf that Francis himself spoke with, became a trusted town mascot and companion once Francis heard the wolf’s plight and arranged for the villagers to feed him. St. Boniface Neighborhood Center’s “Gubbio Project” offers simple hospitality to people who are homeless-our brothers and sisters who are all too frequently looked upon with fear and loathing. These same “relatives” are among those who frequent St. Anthony Foundation, too, not only the Dining Room, but other services as well. These are among the programs that our dedicated volunteers support with their kind presence, day in and day out.

Fr. Floyd was equally at home with all people–volunteers, guests, clients, staff, donors, dignataries–you name it! His Franciscan vocation and dedication to serving the poor however, distinguished him, and guided us for nearly half a century!

Means, for Fr. Floyd, was not so much something you had in your pocket, but more so something that you carried in your heart. He seemed to recognize it in everyone, even and maybe especially, in the most troubled. To be genuinely recognized in this way, lifts the spirit and sparkles the eye! You could witness this endlessly, if you were near Fr. Floyd as he went anywhere. People would just light up! Our volunteers too, blessed for years by Fr. Floyd, demonstrate that same ability to recognize one another as brothers and sisters deserving of every hospitality and appreciation. This is the “language” that heals-that welcoming, tending, shepherding way that Fr. Floyd lived and bequeathed to us.

It’s easy and wonderful to imagine him meeting up joyfully with people (and animals!) who’ve gone before him. May he be having many wonderful reunions in Paradise, and may he continue to send his blessing to the entire St. Anthony Foundation Community. We will miss him. We will remember him!

All of us at St. Anthony’s have heavy hearts this week. Our friend and colleague, Fr. Floyd Lotito, OFM, has gone home to God, a few days shy of his 75th birthday. For forty years Floyd’s blood, sweat and tears (and lots of song and laughter as well) have been poured out here at Jones & Golden Gate, in service to God’s favorite people: the poor. This dear, and much loved, Friar personified the ancient, revered tradition we call “Franciscan”, and in his honor, we remember and celebrate that legacy of loving service.

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I searched high and low at St. Anthony’s yesterday for as many photos as I could of Fr. Floyd. I thought the blog would be a suitable place to share some images of his 41 years of service at St. Anthony’s.

Fr. Floyd undertook many projects and helped countless people. The following images capture only a small fraction of what he accomplished on this tiny block of Golden Gate Avenue.

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA Franciscan Father Floyd Lotito, longtime director of many programs at St. Anthony Foundation since 1970, died on July 14th, 2009. He was 74 years old.

Equally at home with A-list socialites and the poorest residents of San Francisco, Fr. Lotito was a passionate advocate for the poor throughout his entire life. In San Francisco, he is perhaps best known for his work with St. Anthony Foundation, where he has served in various capacities since 1968. (more…)

Our longtime volunteer and dear friend, Jewel Ramsey, died a couple of  weeks ago. Ramsey, as he preferred to be known, was a stroke victim who simply refused to be put on the shelf. For many years, in spite of his paralysis, he was the energetic, enthusiastic, cheerful semi-official paper shredder and recycler for most of the work units at 121 Golden Gate. His obsession with the Oakland Raiders and his annual, repeated reminders that his birthday was approaching were part of the charm that endeared him to all of us.

Two years ago, when Ramsey didn’t show up to volunteer, two St. Anthony’s employees went to check on him, around the corner at Civic Center Residence (44 McAllister). They found him leveled by a new and devastating stroke. It erased most of his memory, including that of his favorite black & silver-clad football team across the Bay. After some weeks at SF General, Ramsey was transferred to a great residential care facility (Victorian Manor at 1444 McAllister). When we would visit him there, it was a challenge for him to remember who we were. But we were all relieved to observe what great care he was receiving, and that no stroke could squelch his sunny disposition.

So . one final reminder. RAMSEY’S BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP, two weeks from today on Friday, March 27th. We’ll remember him and celebrate the way we used to, with a Ramsey Birthday Breakfast. (Details to follow.) As Ramsey would have said: “You know it! You know it!”

“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” And, “Fitz, that’s cold!”