Posted by Rusty Zarbo on February 08, 2008 at 03:25:38 from 130.13.159.120 vdsl-130-13-159-120.phnx.qwest.net :
I have thought of Dr. Powell many times and especially when I visit Buffalo during the holidays. What a powerfuly beautiful part of my life this man was. Even at 60 years old few were as cool, as connected, as powerfully a part of a cosmic flow as beautiful Dr. Powell. I remember Thelma Snell, former secretary to the curator at Albright Knox and I sitting on the floor of her Victorian brownstone in Buffalo during one of her great parties - Ed walks in and Thelma looks at him and says, "They must turn your name into something powerful, strong like you - like "powelism" - and we all laughed and we knew exactly what she meant. As I write this I can hear him calling my name with that very wise look in his brilliant, iris lines shattered, shale gray eyes, pulling his beard as he smerks... Never had someone encouraged me so much to paint and never was any one so willing to buy my algebra spalsh paintings as willingly as Ed. He understood them and understood where the work was coming from. It was always a dare to the academics, "Go ahead, develop a mathematic formula for chance. I defy you." I have included a link to my website with drawn images created during my friendship with Ed while living at St. James Place, Buffalo. You are and will never be forgotten dear Dr. Ed Powell, warrior of Norton Hall. Your lights were never dim and the light and joy of the memory of you will never lose neither its light nor its magnetism. I love you forever. This is indeed sad news. You were never supposed to leave, not as long as I was alive.