Celebrating the life of
Jonah Calinawan
8th September, 1969 - 7th February, 2022To view Jonah's Obituary: https://jonahcalinawan.com/
Family and friends
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Join MemoriesTo view Jonah's Obituary: https://jonahcalinawan.com/
Family and friends
Dale Needham We're sharing Jonah's obituary on jonahcalinawan.com
Debbie Lau Jonah and little sister Debbie growing up in the Philippines. Jonah always smiled for the both of us.
Jonah graduated University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Mathematics and Statistics
Rob Davis Jonah and Rob on a "high"
Rob Davis Jonah on the East Cost
Rob Davis Jonah and I on a road trip to the East Coast - kinda like Thelma & Louise!
James Ip Jonah and Dale came over for my housewarming/Pride party in 1999 when I moved into my first condo in downtown Toronto.
Dale Needham
Olivia Lau Niece Olivia (around 6 months) and Tito Bong Bong
Olivia Lau Jonah and family in Etobicoke (left to right: baby Olivia, Mama, Jonah, Debbie, Sofy, Marc, Josh)
Christine Soong Jonah and Dale at our wedding in 2004, one of many life's milestones we were able to celebrate together.
Christine Soong Dale and Jonah met us in NYC before Eddy and I moved down to join them in Baltimore. New York became a frequent and easy destination from Baltimore when we wanted a big city experience.
Christine Soong One of the many dinners where we enjoyed Jonah's company in Baltimore.
The first time I met Jonah was with Dale in a hotel lobby. We walked together and he told me of his love of art and all that he was working on. Dale listened attentively as a great partner always does. Their love of one another was palpable and true. I was lifted up by the measure of their commitment to one another and carry this feeling with me to...
Christine Soong Jonah and I enjoying New Orleans (and amazing food) while Eddy and Dale attended a conference.
Olivia Lau Jonah and family at Marc's Graduation
Debbie Lau Jonah, Dale and sister Debbie running the 2010 Baltimore half marathon. Personal Bests!
Debbie Lau Some work in progress pics Jonah asked me for feedback. I miss his short emails asking "what do you think of this?"
Jonah graduated from Academy of Art University with a Master of Fine Arts, Photography
James Ip We were so happy that Jonah and Dale were able to join us as we celebrated our wedding in Toronto, 2015.
Chris Stitt Wonderful memory of meeting up in NYC for the weekend with Jonah and Dale. Ron and Chris
Debbie Lau Jonah wearing one of his favourite shirts!
Dale Needham
Dale Needham
Dale Needham
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Dale Needham
Jongseo Chung 2017 Halloween at IFC....We will miss you
Luigi Lannutti Good memories of late night and weekend working hours made fun with you.
Dale Needham Jonah added a lock to the Love Lock bridge in Paris while on a solo work trip.
Dale Needham
Dale Needham
Dale Needham
Dale Needham
Jee Won Choi Memories from 2018 Halloween... Jonah was very talented and funny person with a kind heart. It was a pleasure and honor to work with you. You will be greatly missed.
Yishi Wang Jonah shared his inspirational idea of story telling. He loves to draw his thoughts in sketch.
John Hochwalt It was a pleasure to have known Jonah. To me he was a colleague, teammate, mentor, and friend. After my very first meeting with Jonah, I knew he was a class act, highly respected within the corporation. I looked up to him in many ways. He was such a gentle, kind, and genuine soul. He seemed to have this superior ability to be present, live in the moment and enjoy life. Thank you for gracing us with your presence for many years at IFC. You will be missed.
Dale Needham
Dale Needham
Dale Needham Jonah retired and was recognized for his accomplishments at World Bank
Dale Needham Jonah cyanotype self portrait
During the several years we spent at IFC together I always looked up to Jonah as being a role model for working smart and never losing sight of one's real priorities and passions. Early in 2019, Jonah, along with myself and several others made the decision to leave our careers at IFC to pursue other endeavors. I remember our chats about our excite...
Dale Needham
Dale Needham
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Jonah enrolled in an MFA/PhD in Mythology with a special emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica University
Dale Needham Watch Jonah perform Bach's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring on the piano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiF4Ok_8Fc0
Debbie Lau Jonah enjoying a nice day out. He always enjoyed dessert!
Dale Needham The "Book of Jonah" is an autobiography that Jonah completed as part of his PhD coursework at Pacifica.
Dale Needham A list of Jonah's art exhibitions. His work was award winning and showcased in several prominent local Baltimore, as well as international outlets.
Dale Needham Jonah's friends at Pacifica held a beautiful memorial on March 1, 2022. You can see the contents of the ceremony here.
Yishi Wang Jonah wrote the dream that changed his life. https://jonahcalinawan.com/blog/jungian-dream-analysis-that-changed-my-life/
Jonah was an amazing classmate at AAU. I can’t say how many times I watched the recording of his thesis presentation when trying to prepare my own. His work is inspirational and his passion was contagious. Though, sadly, we never got to meet in person, Jonah was always incredibly supportive and available for an e-chat. He so kindly recommended my ...
Ginno Aries Imperial I was able to re-connect with Jonah before I left for China...little did I know. I am so saddened that such a bright and very talented soul, has left us too soon.
Dale Needham Jonah is an incredible artist. Here are examples of his work with Cyanotypes.
Dale Needham Dale is sharing the ways he and family are saying goodbye to Jonah.
Ann Jastrab I can't believe it's been almost a year since this immensely talented artist left this world. I remember meeting Jonah at Fotofest in 2016 and being astounded by his cyanotype project "A Million Suns." I feel blessed to have seen the work and also to own a few of Jonah's pieces. The art world has lost a master and the planet has lost an amazing human being. Sending love and strength for this second year to his family and loved ones.
When I first came to Jonah's office here at IFC's building, the first thing I saw was Rothko's print behind his back on the wall. I loved it. Then, I've looked at his table - absolutely clean, no papers, no folders. I knew we will connect immediately! So, we did. At another visit he told me about his journal and showed meticulously maintained back...
Luli Tola I still cannot believe, the forever young and smart Jonah is no longer amongst us... we shared the same age, and I was always "mad" at you for looking 10 years younger than me...we shared many years together at IFC, some of them in the same teams... I will always remember how fun you were outside of the office - at our retreats or Halloween office parties. Before you left IFC, we did an interview together which we shared with the department, and you were wearing your favorite black leather jacket - you looked really cool! You were so excited to start your next chapter after IFC, focusing on your piano classes and your photography. I will always cherish our chats, and I know Heaven has gained an angel with so many talents. Rest in Peace dear Jonah...I hope you're taking all the beautiful photos up there...
Ron Paviglianiti Dale and I met in Los Angeles to take part in a celebration of Jonah’s life at Pacifica Graduate Institute where Jonah was attending a masters /PhD program in Mythology. The campus near Santa Barbara is a cozy space in the woods populated by the most kind and generous people :) The Garden was designed (in part by Jonah before his passing) for a retiring faculty member, Christine Downing, and the garden also became a shared space for those who have been lost from their community. There was dancing, poetry and song that were full of meaning and joy (a description that is woefully inadequate as a non-mythology masters/PhD student :)) Dale placed a stone engraved with Jonah’s name in the garden along with a personal message written on a heart shaped stone we had found the day before on a beach walk and some of Jonah’s ashes. A member of their cohort spoke of Jonah with kind words of remembrance that made me cry, one of many times that evening :) It was a bitter sweet experience hearing his classmates speak with Dale afterwards about their favourite experiences with Jonah. He had clearly been a collaborative and supportive member of the community at Pacifica. People told how he had inspired and assisted other students in his cohort. In these stories it was easy to see the curiosity and the generosity of the Jonah we loved. It will take time for the garden to mature. I hope to see it again someday.
Dale Needham Students and Faculty at Pacifica University honor Jonah at a memorial ceremony
I’m so sad to just read this news! I was lucky to spend a week with Jonah in Santa Fe more than 10 years ago when we were both students in Keith Carter’s photography workshop. His talent was evident then. And he was so sweet and interesting. All of the women in the class felt so safe and secure with him that we picked him to take our nude portrait ...
Heidi Engel I was lucky enough to have lunch with Jonah in Boston during a Conference- ADS. It was apparent he was a generous insightful soul & we spent our day marveling together at his partner Dale plus discussing all things photography and the Fine Arts Museum in Boston. I went to the Museum the next day thanks to Jonah. My heartfelt sympathies to all fortunate enough to know Jonah so well.
Debbie Lau I made a little movie to commemorate Jonah’s 1-year anniversary. Jonah used to love my little movies that were really just a collage of pictures I cherish…nothing fancy but hey, he loved anything creative! Especially coming from his little sister😅 Jonah, wherever you are, I miss you. I hope you like the song…it is about living a life to the fullest and without regrets. You did, my dear brother, you did! ❤️❤️❤️
Debbie Lau Taken when Jonah came home for a visit and we were on our way to dim sum. He loved going for dim sum ❤️🩹❤️🩹