Judith

I am deeply sad to note the death of my writing friend and colleague Judith Ortiz Cofer. Her passing came as a shock to me, as I had not known she was ill with cancer for the past couple of years. That's what retiring and becoming a recluse does to one. I wish I had stayed in touch.

Judith was a fellow member of the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame, and she was the one responsible for getting me involved as an adjunct professor in the UGA Creative Writing program many years ago. She was a pioneer in the rich, cross-cultural world of Puerto Rican-American literature and taught us so much with her writing, teaching, and public speaking.

The world seems like a smaller place without her.

Thank you, Judith, for great books and a life well-lived. You gave us joy.