David Wolfe Mitchell

David Wolfe Mitchell
June 23, 1940 ~ August 21, 2011

MONTEREY - Dave Mitchell, 71, poet and translator, died peacefully in the arms of his wife, Barbara Mountrey, on August 21, 2011.
Dave was born in Brooklyn and raised in Yorktown Heights, NY. He met his wife in 1958, and they remained close friends ever after, finally reuniting in 1997 and marrying in 2003.
Dave was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2007, but was able to live at home until May 2011. He then moved into The Victorian Residential Care, where he received loving care and comfort. In June he was placed under the care of Heartland Hospice, who kept him calm and comfortable until he succumbed to the effects of Alzheimer's, exacerbated by COPD and heart damage from rheumatic fever at the age of seven.
Dave's one book of poetry is now out of print, but most of his poems can be found at motherbird.com. He was always amazed by evidence of worldwide respect for his poems, such as finding that they had been translated into Estonian. He was also excited to have some of his poems used in state graduation exams, because they would be read by thousands of students, an audience few poets achieve.
Dave also supported the work of many other writers, artists and photographers by publishing Talus and Scree, an international literary journal.
Dave taught himself to read Russian and became a translator of technical journals. He was quite proud of having translated documents related to decommissioning a Russian biochemical plant.
He is survived by his sons, Timothy Keene deWard Mitchell, Christopher Daniel Mitchell and Joshua O'Keefe (Adrienne); his brother, James Duane Mitchell (Katherine); brother-in-law and friend, William Mountrey; niece, Anne Mitchell, and great-nephew, William; and former wives, Jeanne deWard and Polly Mitchell.
He was predeceased by his parents, James and Helene Mitchell and by his brother, William and sister, Jane Meri.
In accordance with his wishes, Dave's body has been donated for medical research.