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Steve Orlen Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Steve Orlen
Miriam Neustein
December 28, 2024
Steve ,A"H, visited my late father and left him a copy of our family tree. I heard he was so happy that he found his cousin, my father. I heard that he was a kind and special human being.
gail orlen
November 13, 2024
we had a good life together. miss you
Pamela Ross OMalley
February 9, 2024
To Steve Orlen's family: I inadvertently came across Steve's obit. My first husband Bill Ross and I knew him in his Univ of Iowa days and they were in the Writer's Workshop there. We initially got to know him because we all were UMass graduates too. Steve was fun, kind and helpful and I can still picture him in the doorway at Black's Gaslight Village in Iowa City. Glad he had a wonderful productive life. Pam O"Malley
gail marcus-orlen
November 13, 2022
miss you still, my dear
Susan Iredell
April 3, 2011
The best classes of my life were in the creative writing program at the U of A. Steve Orlen was a powerful and important mentor to me and I have read his books over again many times in the last 30 years. I am grateful to have had his influence and kindness in my life and I will continue to remember him with great fondness.
James Steeber
March 5, 2011
I just found out my cousin Steve died. It is a sad morning. We met once, and this was something of great fortune but minuscule probability, the outcome of which made me truly grateful.
Charlotte Forbes
February 12, 2011
Sorry to hear about your loss....
Our warmest thoughts are with you.
With Love, Charlotte and son Bruce
Related to Ida Melnick and Misha Belkin,
Families of Holyoke,Mass.
Steve had requested family history and wonder if you would like this information as well as some very old photos of family.
Please contact [email protected].
It can all be emailed.
Dick Buhr
February 3, 2011
Looking at the inside cover of the February Poetry magazine, I discovered that Steve Orlen had died. I had Steve in an introductory writing class for English majors in Spring 1967. He introduced me to contemporary culture. Our assignments included reviewing a book of contemporary poetry (in my case, James Wright's "St. Judas"), a modern dance performance, and a foreign film (Resnais' La Guerre Est Finie), among other assignments. Our class discussions were ripe with ideas and references to contemporary culture that I had never encountered before as a first generation college student. He presented new directions at an important moment in my life. I have thought of him often over the years even though I hadn't communicated with him since i graduated in 1969.
james moore
January 19, 2011
I knew Steve back in the Iowa days. In an atmosphere that could be tense, Steve was unfailingly kind. I will never forget his beautiful smile, beautiful presence.
Jim Moore
Courtney French
January 17, 2011
A wonderful man, he will be greatly missed by all!
Simon Spivak
January 10, 2011
As a cousin from Australia I did not get to meet Steve. I will cherrish our few email conversations about our Wolinsky family history, and will continue to read his poetry. Simon Spivak
January 7, 2011
A great loss to the world of poetry and teaching in general. He was a superb teacher. He was a friend to many now well-known poets (Boyer Rickel, Michael Collier, Tony Hoagland, et.c) who were young and full of energy and partial hope and promise. Steve was my MFA thesis advisor. I bet he's sitting at the Cushing Bar and Grill right now. (Criss Cannady, MFA student, 1977.)
Mark Davis
December 23, 2010
Gail & Cosi, we’re so sorry to hear about Steve. He was a true soul doctor and rabbi for the rest of us. He encouraged me to believe that I could be an artist, or at least live like one. Ever grateful, love from me & Jane.
Michael Smith
December 21, 2010
There was a nervous vibrancy in his workshops, a casual intensity. He taught us to value sincerity and suspect seriousness. A desert Rilke, a kind and generous soul. I am so sorry to learn he is gone.
James Reiss
December 16, 2010
In Oxford, Ohio I started Miami University Press mainly to publish Steve Orlen’s “The Bridge of Sighs.” When I read Steve’s terrific title poem in “The Atlantic” and learned that the manuscript of his third poetry book was available, I started a huge campaign to create MU Press and make it a venue for books by poets who had already published at least one collection. A few years later “The Bridge of Sighs” appeared, with its red cover beautifully illustrated by Gail Marcus-Orlen, as the debut volume in MU Press’s poetry series. In 1997 we issued our second Orlen book, “Kisses,” with its green cover again illustrated by Gail. I remember receiving the manuscript for “Kisses,” loving the poems and phoning Steve within 48 hours to offer him a publishing contract. Steve was bowled over; he wrote me to accept my offer and say that he was “kvelling”! More than a decade later, I, too, am still kvelling about Steve’s poems. I was devastated this morning to learn from Steve’s long-time pal David Schloss that Steve died exactly a month ago.
gail orlen
December 8, 2010
I just want to thank all of you for your kind words about Steve. we really miss him alot. from Gail, his wife.
December 2, 2010
I have known and loved Steve for over thirty years. He was my professor in graduate school in 1976, as well as a confidant and mentor. I am so grateful that we had one last chance to meet in Tucson last December and spend some time together. He was a good and gentle soul, a fantastic teacher, and I will miss him. My wife Lucinda and I shared his poetry when we first met and it will remain a part of our lives. Michael Hogan (Guadalajara, Mexico)
Elaine Abrams
December 2, 2010
Reading these heart-felt tributes makes me wish that I had known Steve. Paths crossed on the DNA trail but I now know that I missed meeting a truly warm, kind, creative man. My thoughts are with his family.
Jill Whitehead
December 1, 2010
Steve was given as my 4th cousin on genetic testing service 23andme, and my brother Richard was given as a close relation of Steve's cousin John Wolins by Family tree DNA. We had some entertaining exchanges of emails over the last few years about Steve and John's colourful London based ancestor, who allegedly frequented the British museum, ran an art gallery and sired a few children by different women into the bargain. Will miss his insightful take on family history!
Jill Whitehead, Surrey, UK
Howard Wolinsky
December 1, 2010
I knew Steve from our common family research. I was a genetic match with his cousin John Wolins.
I met Steve in person when he was stuck in Chicago in a fogged-in airport.
We had long exchanged family history information.
He was a thorough, serious researcher and of course a wonderful poet who lived life large.
Our sons became friends in New York where they were magazine interns.
Steve will be missed.
Chase Twichell
November 28, 2010
Steve, you tender rascal, the world is diminished by your death.
Jeff Eisman
November 26, 2010
Steve and I were roommates at UMASS in 1963, and 3 years ago, we met along with Cozi in Amherst.He was so free of issues, and I was influenced by him in those years. The irony is that at a party 2 weeks ago, I mentioned to a friend and poet, Deb Gorlin if she knew Steve. She did and had published his work. And now he's gone and I will miss him dearly as you will. With great admiration and sadness..Jeff Eisman, Amherst
Joanne Saltman
November 26, 2010
We were so sorry to hear of Steve's death. We were on a trip to Japan and just returned last week. Steve and I had developed a close Internet friendship over our common passion for family genealogy in the past few years. He will be sorely missed.
Joanne and Bill Saltman
Henry Koffler
November 23, 2010
Dear Gail:
Steve's death is a tremendous loss.
I have taken great pride in our creative writing program, and Steve was its star.
He was a brilliant poet and inspired many others to follow his gigantic footsteps. He was a compassionate human being.
We will remember him with affection, gratitude and respect.
Henry Koffler
Zachary Schaefer
November 22, 2010
My most profound condolences. Professor Orlen was a wonderful teacher and a great man. He will be missed.
Rich Cummins
November 21, 2010
Dear Gail,
I am so sorry....Steve helped me at a time in my life when I desperately needed help. Working as his assistant in 1988-1989 was a great boon to me, in so many ways, and the following year he was instrumental in helping me get a fellowship. I'll always remember his kindness and great sense of humor and be grateful for having known him. My thoughts are with you and Cozi.
Adrienne Halpert
November 20, 2010
Well, Steve was right; we are all related, only separated by a small slice of space and time. I still can feel the last hug he gave me, warm, familial and love filled. My heart goes out to Gail, Cozi and the greater family who were blessed to know this incredible soul.
Alicia Cata
November 20, 2010
Prof. Orlen was my poetry professor in 1981-82. He was a wonderful teacher and a great encouragement to me. His poetry still hangs on my wall.
My prayers go out to his friends and family. Please be aware of how deeply he impacted so many, and how fondly he will be remembered.
Mike Casetta
November 20, 2010
Steve was a great & kind person, a brilliant poet, and an exceptional & inspiring teacher. I feel an unmeasurable loss with his passing. He joyfully & humorously gave so much of himself to help other writers find their voices & the confidence to open themselves to the spirit of poetry. My condolences to his family.
November 20, 2010
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Rossi Guillory
November 20, 2010
Rest In Peace.
Rest in peace, Steve
John Pollock
November 20, 2010
I was a student of Steve's in the early 80s and remember him fondly for his easy-going, yet pointed teaching style. And of course, he was (is) one of my most influential poets.
Here's a Sonoran desert abstract I took of a splitting saguaro that I think Steve would have enjoyed.
November 20, 2010
I am sorry to hear of Steve's passing. I did not know him well but he was a distant relative ( on my mother's side)and I just wish to express my deepest sympathy to Steve's family and his many friends. Neil N. Fedman from Holyoke,Ma
Nevil Parker-Theriaque
November 20, 2010
Steve was the most unfailingly generous individual I've ever known. Kind, funny, self-revealing and self-effacing, earnest, original, irreverent, wise, and always surprising. His example taught me much about what is best in people. I will cherish our strolls around the Tucson campus in search of unusual botanical specimens. At that time, we shared a love of plants, and I recall that Gail and Steve had a fine garden. My heart goes out to you, Gail and Cozi. Having recently lost my mother and father, the only comfort I can offer is that these losses of delight seem to be accompanied by a flowering of insight and vision. Steve was a gift. Thank you for sharing him with so many of us.
Nevil, a former student
Randy Whitten
November 19, 2010
Gail,
Our sincere condolences to you and your family from your neighbors in Armory Park.
Randy and Jonella
Rita Brown
November 19, 2010
Dearest Gail, I was so stunned and saddened to learn of Steve's sudden death. I have known him for over 40 years, read his poetry, been a recipient of his kindness and loved his spirit. The two of you were so special, a gift to this community with your creative works, and example of love for one another. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Rita Brown (Garitano)
Barbara Mannlein
November 19, 2010
Gail,
I only knew Steve through his passion for genealogy but that was enough for me to learn how generous he was with his time and his knowledge. My heart is saddened by his leaving us so soon.
May your memories of happier times bring comfort to you.
Barbara Mannlein, Tucson
November 19, 2010
Steve was a prince of kindness. As my teacher, he taught me to believe in my potential. He was my friend, my brother and my parent in many ways. He inspired me to never be afraid of my own talent and developed my ability to write poetry as a parent patiently teaches his child to ride his first bike. I love you, Steve, Gail,Cozi and Marion. Pamela Treiber Opper.
Laurie Weckel
November 19, 2010
The Weckel-Dahman family is thinking of you, Gail, and Cozi, with much love. We are remembering Steve's lively and compassionate spirit and know that his unique voice will be greatly missed.
Carolyn Classen
November 19, 2010
Sincere and heartfelt condolences to Gail and Cozi from our Classen family and the Sam Hughes Neighborhood Association. He was a great poet among us.
ted sotinsky
November 19, 2010
Gail and Cozi and Family,
I despise death. I hate death with a passion. Death is the rotten core of our mysterious existence. I extend my sorrow to you and your son and Steve and your family.
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