Maurice Kenny, American poet, Died at 86

  Writers

Maurice Kenny was born August 16, 1929, in Watertown, New York, died in Saranac Lake, New York on April 16, 2016.

He was a Mohawk poet.

He was co-editor with Josh Gosciak of Contact/II, a literary magazine.

Kenny was also the editor and publisher of Strawberry Press (most active in the 1970s and 1980s) and Many Moons Press.

The magazine Strawberry Press publishes poems and artwork, often in postcard form, by Native Americans.

The company, Many Moons Press put out poetry and artwork primarily from writers and artists associated with the North Country of New York State, including photographer Mark Kurtz and poet Dan Bodah.

Kenny went around to read his poetry throughout the United States and Europe.

Well renowned New York City readings included the Poetry Festival at St. Clement’s Church, West 46th Street, Manhattan; Waterways: Poetry in the Mainstream readings and book fairs; the American Indian Community House; Poet’s House; and many other venues.

Maurice Kenny held residencies at a number of colleges and universities, including St. Lawrence University (which granted him an honorary doctorate in 1995), the American Indian Community House in New York City, the Oneida Indian Nation of Wisconsin, the University of California at Berkeley, the Enowkin Center, the University of Oklahoma, and Syracuse Community Writers (funded by the New York State Council on the Arts).

In his later life, Kenny divided his time between Saranac Lake, and Potsdam.

Maurice taught at North Country Community College, Paul Smith’s College, and SUNY Potsdam and retired from his teaching duties at the latter in 2011.

Kenny resided in Saranac Lake in his last years, where he died on April 16, 2016.

Maurice Kenny passed away at 86 yrs old.