John Douglas Kalb

Dr. John D. Kalb, age 75, passed away at Tidal Health in Salisbury, Maryland on September 12, 2025, following a brief illness. John was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 4, 1950, the youngest child of the late Irvin and Maude Kalb. He is survived by his siblings, Marjorie Bree Kalb of Carrboro, North Carolina, and David R. Kalb of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was predeceased by his beloved partner, Anne Cross. Following graduation from high school, John explored several occupations, working as a government clerk, a cook, and a manager of a music club and coffee house-a reflection of his deep and abiding love of folk music. Impelled by a desire to teach high school English, he attended, and graduated from, Central Michigan University. Responding to the encouragement of college mentors, John decided to pursue advanced degrees in English. He received his Masters and Ph.D. in English from Michigan State University. In 1989, he joined the English department of Salisbury State University and launched a distinguished career as a teacher and scholar that spanned thirty years. His field was Ethnic American literatures with a special expertise in Native American literature. He also taught a popular course in literature of the 1960s. In the English department, he was respected for his clear-headed common sense. From 2005 to 2013, he served the department as Director of Graduate Studies. He was also an outspoken and tireless faculty advocate, serving the department and university in many capacities, including his extensive work on the Fulton School of Liberal Art's Curriculum Committee. He will be remembered fondly by music lovers across Delmarva as the host of "Just Folks," which ran on Public Radio Delmarva for 21 years from 1991 to 2012. His sonorous voice and acute knowledge of the folk music scene-as well as his carefully curated play lists-provided his large and appreciative audience with entertainment and insight every Saturday evening for all those years. John also enjoyed travel, visiting such places as Alaska, Iceland, and Ireland. John will be missed by family, friends, colleagues, and former students. Funeral arrangements were private. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John, please visit our floral store.