Obituary
Calvin S. Powers

Calvin S. Powers (5/29/1964–3/2/2024) Calvin S. Powers, age 59, of Hillsborough, passed away on March 2, 2024 after a short illness. Born in Beaumont, Texas on May 29, 1964, Calvin was the son of Charles and the late Jean (Smith) Powers. He attended East Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte and Texas A&M University, graduating in 1986 with a degree in Computer Science. Calvin had a long and illustrious career with IBM in North Carolina, beginning with computer programming and internetworking, then moving into cryptography and security, and ending with media production. He was one of a vanishing breed who spends his entire adult career with the same company, retiring from IBM in 2019 after 33 years of service. But Calvin almost always had a “side hustle” going on. He began as a radio DJ in 2002 with Duke University’s WXDU, working the Saturday 3–5 am slot. He went on to have regular slots at more reasonable hours at Carrboro’s community radio station, WCOM, and Hillsborough’s new community station, WHUP, broadcasting Taproot Radio “from above the Dual Supply Hardware Store on King Street.” At the same time, Calvin became a podcaster with his Americana Music Show, playing “hand-picked, road-tested, American music.” Over the course of his decades in radio and 500 episodes of the AMS, he did countless interviews with up-and-coming musical acts, and some pretty big names, too. It was through Calvin’s long-standing love of science fiction (and the maneuvering of some friends) that he met his wife, Pat French, in 2008. He introduced her to the world of conventions and fandom, and she introduced him to Battlestar Galactica. The rest was history. Other activities they shared included hiking, board games, traveling, and photography. Besides Pat, Calvin is survived by his father Charles K. Powers and stepmother Judith Fahl of Charlotte, North Carolina; his sister and brother-in-law Cassandra and Erik Johnson of Coppell, Texas; stepdaughters Elizabeth McQuarrie and Katherine Williams and their families; and nephews Spencer and Garrett Johnson. For those wishing to do so, please consider memorial donations in Calvin’s name to the Kidney Foundation, American Diabetes Association, and Meals On Wheels. Letting Calvin have the last word seems appropriate: “I’m a DIY media mogul (in my own mind), an experienced podcaster, a beginner photographer & videographer, a hack writer, a loiterer in third places, a hiker of trails, a gafiated SF fan, a roots music enthusiast, a strategy game geek, and an all-in husband.” He will be sorely missed.