The local literary community lost one of its leading lights with the passing of Alan Soldofsky this past weekend.
Soldofsky was a poet and published author who retired in 2024 from San Jose State University, where he was a professor of English and Creative Writing and headed the MFA Program in Creative Writing.
He directed the San Jose Poetry Center after joining the faculty in 1985. As past director of the university’s Center for Literary Arts, he expanded the program’s profile and brought legendary authors and poets to San Jose, including Allen Ginsberg and Ken Kesey. His secret talent, though, was championing emerging talent, guiding his students’ creativity and recruiting fresh voices for residencies, readings and faculty positions.
Metro Silicon Valley and other publishers benefited from his efforts to build the local creative community.
He was the author of “In the Buddha Factory” (Truman State University Press, 2013), a book of poems with his son, “Holding Adam; My father’s books” and the poems “Morning in Paradiso” (2002), “Openin’ Statement” (1999), “Thirteen” (1994) and “The Beginning of Summer” (1992)
He is survived by his loving wife, Pamela Pennington, his two sons—Adam (Mimi) and Neal (Michelle), as well as two grandchildren, Eden and Ayla.—Dan Pulcrano, editor
He also co-edited Compendium a reclamation of Donald Justice’s teachings.
His presence will be missed, but his teaching and guidance will continue. At least with me.
The loss of Alan is profound, my, in his words, “brother from another mother.” My heart goes out to him, and Pamela, and the whole family. We’ll miss you my friend.
I was very sad to learn about Alan’s much too early departure from the world he enriched with his passion for poetry, literature, education, a lovely sense of humor, students, colleagues and the San Jose partners in supporting Alan’s zest for life.
Lina Broydo
Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, CA
No doubt, Alan Soldovsky was a bright light in our world that is often filled with too much darkness. He always had a kind word and a great attitude, and he was so interested in poetry that he did model as part of his pedagogy. He was able to light fires under and within students. He will be missed.