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Peter Michelson Obituary

It's with heavy hearts that we share our fathers passing. Peter Michelson passed away peacefully at home on Sept 2, 2021. He lived a full and colorful life for 85 years. Peter shared his life with so many friends, family, former students, university colleagues, fellow poets and writers, along with an endless list of others. Those that are missing him most are his longtime companion Judith Aplon. His brother and sister in law John & Judy Mills. His daughters and their spouses Kristen Randall, Hilary & Jim Trotter, Riva Sweetrocket & Rohan Weerasinghe as well as his grandchildren Kyle Bryan, Aaron McMurray, Mitchell Trotter, Hope VanWey. Peter was a poet, essayist, teacher and critic and his work has appeared in a vast array of political and literary journals and anthologies. He has published numerous books of poetry and prose as well as teaching at Notre Dame, Northwestern, CU Boulder, and around the world in Finland, China, India and Sri Lanka. The University of Notre Dame Hesburgh Libraries is also home to his life collection of work including academic and literary. As countless numbers of his friends have shared with us this world will not be the same without him. What a tribute to our father to have gotten to the end of his life and have touched so many and added so much richness to countless lives. He will be greatly missed. In his words - Onward... A celebration of life and remembrance will be held on Nov 4, 2021 at CU Boulder Norlin Library British Studies Room at 7pm.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Daily Camera on Oct. 3, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Peter Michelson

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5 Entries

Bruce Kawin

September 29, 2024

I miss you and look around for you. Love, Bruce Kawin

Lisa Berenson

April 25, 2022

Rest in peace Professor Michelson. You were a life-changing inspiration to me. More beer, more shrimp, onwards!

Frank Cioffi

November 9, 2021

What a fabulous teacher Peter was! I took some creative writing courses from him at Northwestern, and his spirit and method of teaching have stayed with me for half a century! In a recent book I wrote, I use the expression "the Michelson technique" to describe a particularly effective way that Peter had of teaching. So sad that he is gone.

Bruce Kawin

November 4, 2021

Peter was a great writer and a great friend, stormy and beaming and true--impossible to find another man like him.

David Hansard

October 13, 2021

If laughter was sunshine, you could get third degree sunburn just being in the same room with Peter.

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Memorial Events
for Peter Michelson

Nov

4

Celebration of Life

7:00 p.m.

CU Boulder Norlin Library British Studies Room

CO

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