NEW MILFORD, NJ — April is National Donate Life Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the lifesaving power of organ and tissue donation. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than 100,000 Americans — including nearly 4,000 New Jerseyans — are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. One organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others.
For New Milford resident Christine Baldino, Donate Life Month carries deeply personal meaning. In January 2024, Christine’s brother, Ronald Baldino of Fort Lee, passed away unexpectedly. A registered organ and tissue donor, Ron’s final act reflected the generous spirit that defined his life. Through organ and tissue donation, his gifts helped save and enhance the lives of others.
“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 daughter, Ronni. Family was at the center of his world. He loved carnivals, concerts, shopping trips and spontaneous adventures with his family. As an independent handyman, he built a reputation for being able to fix just about anything. Many admired his craftsmanship, but it was his warmth and enthusiasm that truly set him apart.
In the hours and days after Ron was hospitalized, Christine remained at his bedside, navigating unimaginable grief while witnessing firsthand the compassion of the Holy Name Medical Center and NJ Sharing Network team members.
“The care, the tenderness, and the patience they showed our family was extraordinary. They carried me through the most painful time of my life,” said Christine.
Turning Grief into Something Beautiful
Just days before Ron’s passing, Christine — a textile and mosaic artist for more than 40 years — had begun working on a hand-cut mosaic garden scene. What started as a creative project soon became something far more meaningful.
“I didn’t understand at the time why I felt such urgency to begin the garden piece. It wasn’t planned, it just felt important,” said Christine. “After Ron passed, I began to see the garden differently. It became a place where I could hold my grief and honor his life at the same time.”
The finished piece, now called Ron’s Garden, features a winding pathway leading through arches into a peaceful garden landscape. For Christine, the pathway symbolizes hope, restoration, and eternal life.
“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.”
The original Ron’s Garden mosaic now resides at NJ Sharing Network’s headquarters in New Providence, where it serves as a tribute to Ron’s legacy and to all organ and tissue donors.
A Leap of Faith Inspired by Loss
Ron’s passing also changed the trajectory of Christine’s own life. In December 2024, she made the courageous decision to leave her longtime career in the textile industry and pursue art full time. Today, Christine creates mosaics, paintings, digital artwork, and commissioned legacy portraits.
A Message to the Community
As Donate Life Month is observed across New Jersey this April, Christine hopes her brother’s story inspires others to register as organ and tissue donors and to talk openly with their families about their decision.
“Creating Ron’s Garden reminded me that even in loss, God can grow something meaningful,” said Christine. “My hope is that this piece continues to bring comfort and awareness for years to come. 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.”
Community members are encouraged to honor the legacy of all donor heroes by registering as organ and tissue donors. To learn more and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit NJ Sharing Network’s website at www.NJSharingNetwork.org.
To view the Ron’s Garden Special Print Edition and learn more about Christine’s work, visit her shop at
https://www.etsy.com/listing/4460981664/rons-garden-sharing-network-event. Each print purchased during the six-month event window helps support the Sharing
Network Foundation while continuing Ron’s legacy of generosity.
PHOTO CAPTION #1 – Ronald Baldino and his sister Christine Baldino (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)
PHOTO CAPTION #2 – (Bottom Right) Ronald Baldino with his wife Denise LeBrun and their daughter Ronni Baldino (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)
PHOTO CAPTION #3 – Ron’s Garden, a hand-cut mosaic scene created by Christine Baldino of Christine Baldino Art (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)
