Father Powers is Mystery Zag from Summer 2023 Magazine

Father James Powers, S.J.
Professor, English (1985-2003)

He was humble, witty and a steadfast mentor to students and colleagues alike. He thrived on those times when he energized the imagination and creativity of others. His office was often filled with students who sought his counsel and good humor. Most who knew him were uplifted by his witty perspectives on life and living. He was a man who could see through the heart of a problem and clearly articulate it.

Fr. Powers grew up in Spokane, attended St. Xavier School through World War II, then Gonzaga Prep and received two degrees from Gonzaga University before earning his doctorate in 18th Century British Romanticism and Philology from Colorado. He loved words and wove them together in the most artistic ways. He spent 20 years as English professor and dean of Arts & Sciences at Seattle University before becoming English professor and later chair of the department at Gonzaga. In 1988, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but it didn’t stop him from traveling the world frequently. He was named English Professor Emeritus in 2003 and died in 2005.

Reader Responses 

Fr. Powers was the best professor, and I loved his English literature course. He and other phenomenal educators inspired me to become an English literature teacher. When I returned to Gonzaga nearly 10 years after taking Fr. Powers’ course, I ran into him in the basement of the Ad Building. I recognized him immediately, and he shocked me by addressing me by my name. He stopped to ask about my life and we had a pleasant conversation. Fr. Powers was an amazing Zag.

— Paula Savenelli-Schulte (’91) — Fox River Grove, Ill.

Wow, oh yes. I remember Fr. Powers VERY well. “Tick tock Greenwich Time” he’d say in a television-like narrator’s baritone voice when we did not know the answer to his questions in class.

— Lisa Browne Banic (’90) — Boca Raton, Fla

I took his etymology of speech class circa 1994 and it was a very engaging and fun class. Definitely a touch more fun than the Age of Enlightenment class he also taught, and I enjoyed that one, too. Father Powers was very funny and personable and kind. I still think of him every day with words like crapulous that he enjoyed informing us about.

— Mike DeBellis (’95) — Novato, Calif.

In class, he would comment on how Jesuit House was sinking and how he prayed he would be trapped with the alcohol cabinet and no way to be rescued.

— Rebecca Clark (’94, ’22 Ed.D.) — Spokane

I remember Fr. Powers. He taught me to be a stronger writer. He taught me that strong work ethic will reap exponentially greater rewards. His kindness and professionalism reside in my memory bank and he is part of who I am.

— Noel Leary, Teacher (’90) — Lihue, Hawaii

I remember when we sat down for our final exam of the semester, he distributed the materials and said, “Now write like a bat out of hell.” It was the perfect tension breaker.

— Gina Maffei (’00) — Seattle