On a vigil table inside the references and instructional services office of the CSUN Oviatt Library lay several objects: a Dave Allen and the Arrows CD, music dictionary, a brochure for “Mozart Week” and a mini maracas draped with a Chicana/o sash.
The items belonged to Antonio Calvo, music and media librarian, who died June 12 of heroin intoxication, said the Los Angeles Coroner’s office. Calvo was a 45-year-old newlywed, and a friend to many people in the library. Calvo did not have any children.
The most personal of all items on the table were inside a small black bag containing a travel size bottle of Gillette shaving cream, deodorant, a razor, and toothpaste.
“It was just a shock,” said Nancy Fleury, 45, Calvo’s cousin. “The last time I saw him was at 31 Flavors after a baseball game. We exchanged numbers and addresses and promised to write to each other to meet up sometime. We never met up. That was three months ago.”
A memorial for Calvo was held June 16 at the Mission Hills Catholic Mortuary in Mission Hills.
Calvo was easy to talk to, Fleury said. He was the type of person that someone talked about with other people because he was a “happy-go-lucky” person, she said.
Calvo and Fleury grew up together and would see each other during holidays.
He was a musician and often taught CSUN students allowing him to build a strong connection with faculty members, and students in the music department.
“He was such a funny guy, but hardworking,” said Kellvon Smith, graduate student, motivational counseling major and former colleague of Calvo.
“You knew he worked because he would get things done, but you never knew how he got things done because he would always be joking around, he was always student friendly,” he said.
Michael Barrett, librarian for humanities and social sciences, described Calvo as “one of a kind” in a eulogy he wrote posted on the CSUN library’s homepage.
Barrett’s eulogy expressed great grief for Calvo.
During his four years of employment at the University, Calvo not only made contributions to the Oviatt Library, but also pieced together his family tree, Fleury said.
He also traveled to Mexico to find his father because he knew the tree would not be complete it without him, she said.
“He was a good colleague and a good friend to us all,” said Susan C. Curzon, dean of the library. “He had a very bright future and everyone here in the library feels his loss greatly. Our hearts go out to his wife, and to his family and to all those who knew and loved him.”