Calvin Coolidge Powell dead at 88

Calvin C. Powell, treasurer of the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association, died Oct. 8. Powell was a World War II veteran who served in France, Belgium and Germany during the invasion of Normandy and a Baldwin community activist. He and his wife Rose moved to Baldwin from Brooklyn in 1983 and immediately joined the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association.

Powell quickly became a member of the BOCA board, then its treasurer, and will be remembered as stalwart protector of the Association’s funds.

“No receipt, no money,” Oaks Civic Association president Jacqueline Bell remembers Powell exclaiming in his “booming voice,” adding that he also worked diligently raising funds for the Congregational Church of South Hempstead and the Unity Democratic Club of Brooklyn.

Powell’s interests also included bridge, and he headed up a club dedicated to the game in Coes Neck Park. He volunteered to teach bridge and chess to youngsters at P.S. 5 in Brooklyn, and was elected president of Bushwick’s block captains. Powell also served on the Mayor’s Environmental Committee and contributed his efforts to early community-wide clean up drives which have come to be known as “big sweeps.”

Powell’s wake was held Oct. 15 at the Hartnett Funeral Home in Uniondale. A service was held Oct. 16 at the Congregational Church of South Hempstead. He was buried at Calverton National Cemetery.

Powell leaves behind his wife Rose; daughter Dr. Denise C. Lloyd, her husband Dr. William K. Lloyd, Superintendent of the Uniondale School District; son Calvin C. Powell Jr. and grandchildren Lakisha Lloyd-Forde, Marvin Forde, Sophia Powell, Kimalee Perry, Mocha Powell, Christopher Bradley Lloyd and Olivia McQueen. Powell’s great-grandchildren were: Jaden Lloyd-Forde, Devone Fludd and Christopher Oliver Lloyd.