Deborah Tall

Obituary
DEBORAH TALL
ITHACA - Deborah Tall died on October 19 at age 55 after two years of resisting Inflammatory Breast Cancer, a rare, aggressive form of the disease. She had lived in Ithaca, NY, since 1990 with her husband of 27 years, David Weiss, and their two adored daughters, Zoe and Clea Weiss.A writer and teacher, Tall taught at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY, since 1982, where she was Professor of English and Comparative Literature, The John Milton Potter Chair of the Humanities, and editor of the literary journal Seneca Review. She was a visiting writer at Cornell University in 2003.Both a poet and nonfiction writer, her work was published widely and she gave readings and talks around the world. Her books include Summons, which was selected by Charles Simic for the Katherine A. Morton Poetry Prize in 1999; Ninth Life, an earlier collection published by Ithaca House; The Island of the White Cow; From Where We Stand: Recovering a Sense of Place; and The Poet's Notebook, which she coedited with Stephen Kuusisto and David Weiss. A memoir, A Family of Strangers, came out from Sarabande Books this fall.Born in Washington, D.C., to the late Max M. and Selma D. Tall, she grew up in the Philadelphia area and spent five formative years on Inishbofin, off the west coast of Ireland. In addition to her husband and children, she is survived by her sister, Naomi (and Dana) Groover, father-in-law Murray (and Mimi Selig) Weiss, an aunt, Eleanor Donnerstein, an uncle, Kenneth (and Judith Jaeger) Salzman, cousins, extended family, wonderful colleagues, and many deeply cherished friends.The family expresses its gratitude to all the devoted doctors and care-givers who labored to save her life and gave her such comfort and encouragement, and to the many others who offered a huge amount of support and help.Burial will be private. A memorial service in Deborah's honor will be held at Hobart and William Smith Colleges later this fall.Those wishing to make a donation in Deborah's honor are encouraged to support the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Fund, 321 High School Road NE, #149, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 (http://www.ibc research.org/donations/) or Hospicare of Ithaca. Arrangements by Bangs Funeral Home.