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BORN
1942
DIED
2017
RUDY KIKEL Obituary
Born in 1942 in Brooklyn to Pauline (Staudacher) and Rudolf Kikel, immigrants from Gottschee, a small province in Slovenia, he grew up in a tight knit ethnic community. He attended Catholic schools and St. John's University in Queens, New York, and earned a master's degree from Penn State and a Ph.D. in English from Harvard University in 1975. He taught at Suffolk University for a time, but left academe to work as a building superintendent, which afforded him time to write poetry, which has been published in reviews such as The Kenyon and Massachusetts Reviews, and in books such as Lasting Relations, Long Division, and Talks in the Blue, as well as in numerous anthologies. He later edited several anthologies of gay male poetry. He was awarded a Cultural Achievement Award from the Greater Boston Lesbian/Gay Political Alliance in 1992, and the Grolier Award for poetry in 1997.
When the newspaper Bay Windows was founded in Boston, Kikel joined the team as poetry, arts and entertainment editor. Over more than 20 years he built the second section of that paper into a respected organ for interviews and reviews. Some years after retiring from Bay Windows he published a selection of the popular One of Us newspaper interviews in book form.
Diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in 2002, and subsequently confronting cancer and other ailments, he maintained a can-do attitude through many stages of adjustment and constantly found new ways to be active both mentally and physically. After 25 years in a relationship with Sterling Giles, they married in 2012. He loved movies and the theater, was an art, stamp, and ephemera collector, and was a parishioner of St. Cecilia Parish. He was a proud friend of Bill W for 35 years. Kikel was known for his deep interest in others, winning smile, and naughty sense of humor.
Cremation has been handled privately. A memorial service will be announced later in the summer. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be directed to GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, 30 Winter Street, STE 800, Boston, MA 02108, or to BIDMC (note in memo line: Movement Disorder Center), 330 Brookline Avenue, SCC809D, Boston, MA 02215.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for RUDY KIKEL
David Perkins
July 11, 2019
So saddened to discover that Rudy has died. He was a generous loving man who was instrumental in the LGBTQ movement in Boston and Nationally through his writing and activism. He was so nice to me. I will never forget his kindnesses.
CJ Plourde
July 21, 2018
Rudy was an important and instrumental gay man in my life. He served as an example of the literary possibilities that were open to LGBTQ men and women, including myself. I am very sad to hear of his passing.
John Hall
July 27, 2017
I've only just found out about this, and want to extend my deepest condolences to Sterling and the rest of Rudy's family, friends and fans.
In 1993, Rudy gave me my big break into gay journalism, running my book reviews, occasional movie and theatre reviews and author/celebrity interviews in the pages of BAY WINDOWS. I'll always be grateful for his support and encouragement. And I'll always remember his Christmas parties for the BW writers -- such fun!!
Farewell, my friend, and thank you.
June 10, 2017
Rudy, We already started missing you, when you and Sterling moved from the townhouse on W. Newton St. to the Fenway area. Gone were the casual chats at least once a week on our street. But we still had the chance to see you in most of David's (Zeitgeist Stage) performances at the BCA or at the Regal Cinema at Fenway were we could share your love of opera.
Thank you for all your support of the LGBT community and Zeitgeist Stage. Sterling, there must be a big void in your life; out thoughts are with you, but you should be happy that Rudy passed away peacefully and doesn't have to suffer anymore from this terrible disease that caught him to early in his life
Reinhold Mahler
Abe Rybeck
May 31, 2017
What a man! So smart and sweet and warm and wicked! When I entered Boston's arts scene in the mid-eighties, Rudy was a kind and supportive macher. His interests were broad, genuine and deeply expressed. I felt honored that my work was something he cared about, even in the instances when he didn't exactly like it. His love with Sterling is so singular, it will always be something special for anyone who was around it, for our whole community really.
Joe Martin
May 31, 2017
My heartfelt condolences to Rudy's family and friends. He was extraordinary. Knowing him enriched my life.
May 30, 2017
What a man! So smart and sweet and warm and wicked! When I entered Boston's arts scene in the mid-eighties, Rudy was a kind and supportive macher. His interests were broad, genuine and deeply expressed. I felt honored that my work was something he cared about, even in the instances when he didn't exactly like it. His love with Sterling is so singular, it will always be something special for anyone who was around it, for our whole community really.
Mark Krone
May 30, 2017
I am sad to read this news. Rudy was a force in the Boston LGBTQ literary community for decades. His poetry helped a generation of gay men discover who they were. Here's a line from a story I wrote about him for Boston Spirit Magazine: "In Boston, no gay male writer has had more influence or staying power than poet Rudy Kikel." The next time I saw him, he whispered to me that he liked the term "staying power." None of us has it forever, not even Rudy. But his work and the effect he had on others really will have staying power. My sincere sympathy to his husband, family and friends.
Frank LaPiana
May 30, 2017
My you be with God
Lenny C
May 30, 2017
So very sad to hear of Rudy's passing my condolences to his husband Sterling and the rest of his family..
Jacqueline Lapidus
May 27, 2017
My deepest sympathy to Sterling and to all of Rudy's extended family and friends who mourn him as I do. He was a dear, kind, generous and caring friend, a wonderful editor, a poet who appreciated the work of other poets and published it in Bay Windows (including mine), and proof that the program works if you work it. An irreparable loss.
Pat Kuras
May 27, 2017
So sad to read this. Rudy was such a dear friend and great supporter to me in my early years as a poet. Love and condolences to his partner, friends and family. -- Pat M. Kuras
Jack Hart
May 27, 2017
Rest in peace Rudy. Thanks for your friendship.
Dave Condron
May 27, 2017
My sympathies to Sterling and all of Rudy's friends and family. Rudy was a kind soul. His help to others in the Boston recovery community will not be forgotten. Spirit is forever.
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