Charles Gainor Call

Born in Warsaw, Indiana, on September 4, 1938, Charles grew up in Fortville, Indiana. His lifelong curiosity about technology began at an early age. He became a ham radio operator at the age of 12, a passion he maintained throughout his life while communicating with people around the world.

Charles received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Purdue University in 1960 and his law degree from New York University in 1964. He worked as a patent lawyer, practicing Intellectual Property (IP) law for most of his career. Charles played a pivotal role in computing history by uncovering and proving that the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) predated and invalidated the monopoly-holding ENIAC patent. His work directly led to the historic 1973 landmark federal court ruling in Honeywell v. Sperry Rand, recognizing John Vincent Atanasoff as the inventor of the first electronic digital computer. The trial was described as being “of great significance to the world of science,” with implications for mathematics, physics, and the emerging field of computer science.

Charles will be remembered for his remarkable intellect, his dry, wry sense of humor, his calm baritone voice, and, above all, his kind heart.

He is survived by his wife, Joan; his daughter, Rebecca and her husband Alan; and his sons, Christopher and his wife Amy; and Douglas and his wife Jennifer; and his grandchildren, Abigail, Talbot, Wesley, Charlie, Josephine, and Alec.

He was preceded in death by his father, John Gainor Call; his mother, Helen Louise Foster Call; and his brother, John Foster Call.

A private family gathering will be held. Charles will be deeply missed by his family and friends.