Michael Rothenberg

Michael Rothenberg transitioned on November 21st in Tallahassee. Born on February 17th, 1951 in Miami Beach, Florida, he decided at 15 years old that he wanted to be a poet. He became a highly published poet, prolific artist, songwriter, editor and was a lifelong activist and lover of nature. Michael lived in Northern California for many years where he cultivated orchids and bromeliads in Pacifica, at his nursery Shelldance, which is still run by his first spouse, Nancy Victoria Davis. While in California, he founded Big Bridge Magazine, one the first online literary journals, and helped create Poets in Need, a group providing emergency funds to poets in crisis. In 2011, he and second spouse Terri Carrion founded the international organization 100 Thousand Poets for Change and The “Read A Poem To A Child” Initiative. Together in 2016 they moved to Tallahassee and found their home on the shores of Lake Jackson. Michael was an inspiring force in the creative community of Tallahassee and organized many cultural events and performances. Most memorable are his poetry performances with renowned local musicians. He also was Florida State University Libraries Poet in Residence and FSU Special Collections and Archives now house his personal papers. https://archives.lib.fsu.edu/repositories/10/resources/99. He is survived by his spouse Terri Carrion, uncle Paul Kane, and cousin Bill Kane. He is preceded in death by his brother Bruce Rothenberg, son Cosmos Rothenberg, and lifelong friend Alex Grief. His beloved surrogate family Devin Grief, Ali Grief, and Donna Grief and hundreds of friends and admirers around the world will miss him greatly. A memorial service and celebration of life is to be announced soon. Michael Rothenberg has published over 20 books of poetry, most recently In Memory of A Banyan Tree, Poems of the Outside World, 1985-2020 (Lost Horse Press) I Murdered Elvis, (Alien Buddha Press) The Pillars (Quaranzine Press) and Drawing the Shade (Dos Madres Press). His editorial work includes several volumes in the Penguin Poets series: Overtime by Philip Whalen, As Ever by Joanne Kyger, David’s Copy by David Meltzer, and Way More West by Ed Dorn. He is also editor of The Collected Poems of Philip Whalen published by Wesleyan University Press. For full details of all his books, recordings, broadsides, collaborations, and overall amazing creative life visit his Wikipedia page at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Rothenberg

Michael Rothenberg

February 17, 1951 - November 21, 2022