Our Dear Jennifer has left us.
I met Jennifer back in the 90s in a few of the local San Diego photography groups. Two of those groups were Professional Photographers of San Diego County (PPSDC) and Women in Creative Photography (WiCP). I had been a photographer for quite some time when Jen showed up on the scene. She was immediately a force to being reckoned with, creating masterpiece quality work artistically crafted from her mind and heart. She was always an inspiration to both WiCP and PPSDC members, helping us all to push our creative boundaries. Jennifer also gave her time and services graciously to causes that were dear to her. Women with breast cancer was one of those causes.
When I first got breast cancer myself, stage two in 1998 and 2000, and stage four in 2003 (given 6 months to live!), Jennifer was there, supporting me photographically, not just emotionally. She photographed me as not only a warrior, but also with my husband, capturing our raw emotions. Even though I was stage four in 2003, I did not have my mastectomy and radiation until 2008. I had travelled from Texas back to San Diego for the operation and radiation. I was in San Diego for over 3 months, and part of that time, I stayed with Jennifer and her kids. They took me in like I was family, and our time together was life changing forever.
In 2011, Jennifer herself wound up with breast cancer. It was early stages at first, but, like mine, 5 years later, it advanced to stage four (triple negative) in 2016. I was blessed to be able to travel back out to San Diego in 2016, not too long after her MBC diagnosis, and traveled up toward LA to spend a day with her. I shared what I had learned from my own path, hoping I could help her to live as I had been.
Jennifer continued to give time to her now BC sisters, while she herself began her own journey. She was always reading studies, doing her own research on procedures, chemo drugs, etc., trying to help us all. Again, a force to be reckoned with. In the end, this relentless disease of MBC took our dear Jennifer from us way too soon. She leaves behind her three amazing adult children, Austin, Madi, and Jack, her grandson, Max, and her dear sweet husband, John (aka Honey Bear), as well as many friends and family who will always keep her in their hearts.
Jennifer, we love you and miss you fiercely already! On behalf of Women In Creative Photography (of San Diego County), Your photography buddy, model, and MBC sister,
Deborah Savarese
Nov. 13, 1961 – Nov. 23, 2020 – Age 59
