James R. Calvin, MD

James Robert Calvin, MD, aka “PaPa E”, born into humble means of Earl and Mary Calvin, on April 16, 1930, in Illinois and raised in Peru, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the age of 95. He made his home and medical practice in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was compassionate and decisive.

James exemplified the “American Dream” of rising up in grace, opportunity, bypassing any normal economic constraints. He worked as a soda jerk making root beer floats, and even in a mortuary to pay his way through medical school supplementing his academic scholarship. Seeing unnecessary deaths at the mortuary job made him want to help people live fuller lives. He met the love of his life, beautiful Edwarda, and stayed faithful to his desire to marry her while she passed through her fears and finally made her decision in his favor. He was known as a dedicated, consistent, and effective cardiologist. Most importantly, he had been an attentive son, charitable brother, jovial uncle, faithful husband, peacemaking father amongst his five children.

James was known by staff as one who persisted in keeping patients alive. His effective medical innovation made him quite an expert and founder of invasive cardiology in Baton Rouge. He dutifully saved thousands of precious lives. A nickname from nurses, “Little Dr. Jesus” (JC) because he would persevere in saving lives even after death! He would resuscitate patients who had “died” (mostly by not giving up too easily).

He was preceded in death by his loving bride, Edwarda Calvin; son Christopher Dean Calvin; grandson, Nicholas Calvin; parents, Earl and Mary Calvin; and his siblings, Mary Lou Guy, Earl E. Calvin, John R. Calvin, and Malcolm Calvin.

He is survived by his children, Lon Edward Calvin, Pamela Marie Calvin Mahoney and her husband Richard, Douglas Paul Calvin and his wife Kelsey, and Timothy Wayne Calvin and his wife Susan; grandchildren, Maria, Donna, Dawn, John, Teresa, Angela, Anne, Joseph, Margaret, Bernadette, Bridget, Natalie, Victoria, Hope, Savannah, Thomas, and Sarah; daughter-in-law, Amy Calvin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held in the Parish Hall at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 749 East Boulevard in Baton Rouge, on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until the Traditional Latin Mass of Christian Burial in the Church at 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association, Baton Rouge Cardiology Center, or the Mary Bird Perkins Center.