North Jersey Artist Honors Her Brother During Donate Life Month

April is National Donate Life Month, and for New Milford resident Christine Baldino, it is one of the most personal months of the year.

In January 2024, Christine's brother Ronald Baldino of Fort Lee passed away unexpectedly. In his final hours, Christine remained at his bedside at Holy Name Medical Center, navigating unimaginable grief while witnessing the compassion of the medical team and the NJ Sharing Network around her.

Ron was a registered organ and tissue donor. His final act, like so much of his life, was giving. "My brother was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back," said Christine. "Of course it made sense that he was a registered organ and tissue donor. That was just who he was, always caring for others."

Ron was a devoted husband to his wife Denise and a proud father to their child Ronni. He loved carnivals, concerts, and could fix just about anything. He was the kind of man who standing in line for an event at Rockefeller Center, would notice a woman alone in line and invite her to join his family. That was Ron.

Turning Grief Into Something Beautiful

Just days before Ron's passing, Christine, a textile and mosaic artist with more than 40 years of experience, had begun working on a hand-cut mosaic garden scene. She didn't know why she felt such urgency to start it.

"After Ron passed, I began to see the garden differently," said Christine. "It became a place where I could hold my grief and honor his life at the same time."

The finished piece “Ron's Garden”, features a winding pathway through stone arches into a peaceful garden filled with sunflowers, wisteria, and blooms. Every piece of hand-cut glass and tile was placed by Christine's hands in the months after losing her brother.

The original Ron's Garden mosaic now resides permanently at NJ Sharing Network's headquarters in New Providence, NJ, serving as a tribute to Ron and to all organ and tissue donors.

"Something meaningful can spring from loss," said Christine. "One life can continue to bring healing to many others through organ and tissue donation. My brother's legacy lives on in the people he helped. That brings me peace."

A Leap of Faith

Ron's passing also changed the trajectory of Christine's own life. In December 2024, she left her longtime career in the textile industry to pursue art full time from her New Milford studio. Today she creates original paintings, mosaics, digital artwork, and commissioned legacy portraits, art rooted in beauty, nature, faith, and the people we love.

How You Can Honor Ron's Legacy

This April, Christine released a limited edition of 99 signed Fine Art Giclée Prints of Ron's Garden. Bring this beautiful 8x8 Art Print into your home and with each one finding it's new home, $5 will be contributed to the NJ Sharing Network Foundation in Ron's name. These 99 prints are the only edition offered with a contribution to the Sharing Network Foundation, each one signed, numbered, and part of this special campaign.

"Creating Ron's Garden reminded me that even in loss, God can grow something meaningful," said Christine. "If sharing his story helps even one family find comfort, or encourages one person to register as an organ and tissue donor, then his life continues in an even bigger way."

To view the Ron's Garden print: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4460981664

To read Ron's full story and join Christine's Studio Notes: https://mailchi.mp/christinebaldinoart/rons-garden

To register as an organ and tissue donor: www.NJSharingNetwork.org