Obituary of Kim C. Calvo

Kim C. Calvo, 65, a native of Canton, Ohio, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Silver Lake, his wife Susan and daughter Rebecca by his side, in the early morning hours of April 2, 2017. A scholar and scientist, Kim dedicated his life to teaching and learning. April 1 had signaled the first day of his retirement from the University of Akron as Professor of Chemistry, where his tenure spanned 33 years. Besides his work as professor, he served as department chair for 10 years and as associate college dean for two. He held B.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Ohio State University (1973, 1981) and was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University. Science, as Kim valued it, is a collective effort for the greater good. In keeping with that tenet, he published his research in enzymology - in the Journal of the American Chemical Society and Biochemistry, for example - and belonged to the American Chemical Society and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Because he also valued student engagement as central to scientific advancement, he enjoyed teaching students from all academic majors. He often arranged extra courses and study sessions, and as chair, he garnered support from the Omnova Solutions and Lubrizol foundations for laboratory improvements. Kim led a full, productive life as a man of many interests and talents, which his modest demeanor belied. His reading choices ranged from mysteries and science fiction to nineteenth century novels and world history. He played video games, collected Belleek china and watched Humphrey Bogart films. He loved to cook, to garden, to play with the family dog. He trusted God and counted his blessings. A family man, he preferred the company of Susan, his wife of 33 years, and their daughter Rebecca over all others. Kim will be remembered for his strength of character, dry wit, fairness and decency. Oh, he will be missed! In addition to Susan and Rebecca, Kim is survived by siblings Lori (Jim) Lewis and Chad Calvo; sisters and brothers-in-law Karen and Vic Turk, Jerry Jawyn, Dorothy Joseph, Deborah Burbach, Sharon and Bill Boerger; many nieces and nephews. Kim is preceded in death by his parents, Patricia Ann and Paul B. Calvo; sister Trudy Calvo; brothers-in-law Alfred Joseph and Reinhold Burbach; sister-in-law Patricia Ann Jawyn. A memorial service for Kim, to be announced at a later date, will be held when the backyard garden he and Susan created is in full bloom. Contributions in his name can be made to Doctors Without Borders.