Reader: Jake Adam York would hate "kindness" to be his legacy

Jake Adam York passed away Sunday, dead at forty after suffering a stroke. It's a sad loss for Denver, where he taught at the University of Colorado, and a sad loss for this country's cultural scene. But he lives on in his poetry -- and the memories of the students...

By Patricia Calhoun

December 19, 2012

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Jake Adam York passed away Sunday, dead at forty after suffering a stroke. It's a sad loss for Denver, where he taught at the University of Colorado, and a sad loss for this country's cultural scene. But he lives on in his poetry -- and the memories of the students he taught UCD. Jef Otte was one of them, and he shared some thoughts about Jake Adam York on the Latest Word yesterday. See also: - Jake Adam York, Colorado poet, dead at forty - Jake Adam York: Rest in peace....and poetry - Nickel and Dimed - Big, Bad Words

Says Mc00:

Thank you for not going on about his "compassion" and "kindness." I've been thinking all week how much he would hate that to be his legacy to his students. I've been swearing for years that his meanness was the key to his success as a teacher.

Did you take classes from Jake Adam York? What will you remember?

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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