Hillary Anne Gravendyk

Hillary Anne Gravendyk

Hillary Anne Gravendyk died May 10, 2014 after a long illness. She was born March 1,1979. She grew up in Carnation and graduated from Mt Si. High School.

Hillary enjoyed fly fishing and kayaking in the valley rivers and summer sails in the San Juan Islands. Hillary was a gifted poet, scholar and teacher as well as a wonderful wife, sister and daughter.

Hillary became an assistant professor at Pomona College in 2009, after earning degrees from Tulane University, the University of Washington, and receiving her Doctoral Degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Hillary’s publications include a chapbook of poetry, The Naturalist, (Achiote Press, 2008), and the critically acclaimed Harm, (Omnidawn, 2011), along with a variety of individual poems in prestigious journals. At Pomona, she taught both creative writing and literature courses, on topics including California poetry, and the experience of illness. She was recognized as a talented teacher and dedicated mentor to her students. Professor Gravendyk was the recipient of numerous fellowships and awards, including the Roselyn Schneider Eisner Prize in Poetry (twice), the Emily Chamberlain Cook Prize in Poetry, and the Squaw Valley Community of Writers Scholarship.

Hillary was dearly loved by her husband Benjamin Burrill, her sister Megan and parents John and Katherine. Her life, although far too short, was a love poem to us all.

Numerous readings in Hillary’s honor are taking place in the Los Angeles area and her recent collaborative projects including poetry and a work of fiction are forthcoming. More information on Hillary’s life and work can be found at her publishers website (omindawn.com) or at the Pomona College website (pomona.edu).