Blossom Kirschenbaum

KIRSCHENBAUM, BLOSSOM S., Ph.D., died peacefully at the age of 78 in Providence, Rhode Island on November 5th 2011 after a vibrant life and a two year battle with lymphoma. Born in the Bronx, New York, she graduated from New York City's Hunter College High School and from Hunter College. She went on to earn a master's degree in English from Brown University in 1972 and her Ph.D. in English, also from Brown, in 1976. She always considered herself a "Hunter Girl" as well as a native New Yorker. While raising three children in Providence with her then husband Baruch, she taught composition and literature. She served on the faculty of many local universities, including MIT, RISD, Clark University, URI and UMass, Dartmouth. She also worked for many years as a research assistant for Professor Albert Cook of Brown University's Department of Comparative Literature. In addition to her work as an educator, Dr. Kirschenbaum worked as a writer for nearly her entire adult life. She published book reviews in The Providence Journal, as well as longer articles in the Rhode Island Jewish Spectator. She also published scholarly articles in a variety of literary journals, as well as in several anthologies. After living in Rome, Italy, from 1969 to 1972, she became interested in comparative literature and Italian studies. She published translations of poems by Trilussa, an Italian poet who wrote in the Romanesco dialect (Fables from Trastevere, 1976). She also published translations of two novels: Bloodstains, by Giuliana Morandini (1987) and Maria Zef by Paola Drigo (1989). Her most recent book was a translation of AlphaBetaBestiario, a collection of poems by Antonello Borra, which was released the day before she died. Dr. Kirschenbaum was also active in several local, national and international organizations. She served for many years as the secretary of SWAP, a program that rehabilitates abandoned properties. She also volunteered for Amnesty International and the staccato sound of her electric typewriter could be heard during letter writing campaigns sponsored by its local chapter. Her other memberships included the Modern Language Association, PEN International and the American Italian Historical Association. She was also known to express her opinions vociferously at Providence School Board meetings, at which she continued to support high school students long after her own children had graduated from the Providence public schools. She will be remembered as a lifelong learner, as well as for many personal qualities that left impressions on nearly everyone she met. Her keen intellect and the clarity of her analytic mind made her both a powerful ally and a formidable foe. Her exuberant spirit, wit and ready laughter inspired others to reach for lofty goals and self-fulfillment. She detested injustice in all its guises and used her love of language to combat oppression, wherever she saw it, with unfailing energy and aplomb. Blossom S. Kirschenbaum is survived by her three children, Jennet, Abram and Helena Kirschenbaum and two grandchildren, Joshua and Julia Kirschenbaum. She leaves lasting memories with her three brothers Bory, Ira and Edward, and with scores of friends around the world. Funeral services were private at her request. A celebration of her life is being planned for Spring 2012. Those who knew her are encouraged to send their recollections about her life to: rememberblossom@gmail.com. Contributions in her memory can be made to the following organizations: Hunter College High School, c/o Dr. Tony Fisher, Principal, 71 East 94th St., New York, NY 10128; Italian Studies Department, c/o Mona Delgado, PO Box 1942, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912; Amnesty International, Group 49 www.amnestyusa.org.