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Educator, Author Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick Dies at 58


Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, a prominent theorist who is often cited as one of the founders of queer theory, died on April 12. She was 58.

Sedgwick was reportedly diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991, prompting her book A Dialogue on Love . Sedgwick taught English at several institutions including Boston University; the University of California, Berkeley; and Duke University, where she was a Newman Ivey White Professor of English.

According to friend Cathy Davidson, who wrote about Sedgwick's death on Monday, she died by her partner Hal's side.

"Eve was a practicing Buddhist and blessings were said in Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies all over the world to help with her passage to the next life, a passage that, I know, brings the loving connections she made to the next life," Davidson wrote . "She leaves those connections behind, to those of us fortunate to have known her or been touched by her writings. We love you, Eve."

Sedgwick has written many books on gender and sexual orientation, including Between Men: English Literature and Male Homosocial Desire; Epistemology of the Closet; and Tendencies.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Lisa Day
    Date posted: 4/18/2009 11:44:00 AM
    Hometown: Lexington

    Comment:

    The world is a better place because of Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick's work.

  • Name: Lars Rains
    Date posted: 4/15/2009 3:09:00 PM
    Hometown: Bay Shore, NY

    Comment:

    Eve was the warmest, most generous teacher one could ever have. She opened her heart to her students and her stunning intellect to the rest of the world. This little bear misses his panda...

  • Name: Tess Corday
    Date posted: 4/14/2009 11:47:00 PM
    Hometown: Montreal

    Comment:

    Eve Sedgwick was a critical pioneer, a theoretical adventurer, and an amazing teacher and writer. She was incredibly generous, and kind, and brilliant. Her work continues to be beautifully difficult, hot, inspiring, powerful, and decadently political. I was scared to knock on her office door, but I'm so glad I did.

  • Name: Charlie Vázquez
    Date posted: 4/14/2009 11:06:00 AM
    Hometown: New York, NY

    Comment:

    Very sad indeed.

  • Name: Carolyn
    Date posted: 4/14/2009 10:11:00 AM
    Hometown: Atlanta

    Comment:

    Eve taught at Boston University -- not Boston College. She was a titanic force for good in the world. And an amazing writer! Re-read her now, in the wake of her death -- and ponder how much she has given us!

  • Name: Mike
    Date posted: 4/14/2009 9:15:00 AM
    Hometown: St. Louis

    Comment:

    This is a stunning, saddening loss. Anyone who's ever read her words know what a gift she gave us all--the gift of seeing old things through new eyes, and opening new horizons and vistas to understanding. We will all miss her.

  • Name: PLE
    Date posted: 4/14/2009 7:00:00 AM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    The passing of a woman who had a major, major influence on queer scholarship....surely she deserved more than this mere passing mention in The Advocate!

  • Name: Madam Bomb
    Date posted: 4/13/2009 9:30:00 PM
    Hometown: NYC

    Comment:

    Very sad. She was an amazing professor and an amazing person.

  • Name: JPS
    Date posted: 4/13/2009 9:13:00 PM
    Hometown: Chicago

    Comment:

    a brilliant woman and a pioneer. Professor Sedgwick, you will be missed.

  • Name: Steven Kruger
    Date posted: 4/13/2009 7:45:00 PM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick taught for the last ten years of her life at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.



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