We are sorry to announce the passing of Jay Meek, poet and professor.  For nearly 20 years, he was the director of the Creative Writing program in the Department of English at the University of North Dakota. He was the poetry editor of the North Dakota Quarterly for many years. 

He also taught at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sarah Lawrence College, Wake Forest University, Memphis State University, St. John's University in Newfoundland, Colby College (Maine) and Syracuse University. He received two National Endowment for the Arts Grants: the Bush Foundation Artist Fellowship and the Guggenheim Fellowship. Recently, he read his poetry by invitation at the National Library of Congress. He was the winner of the Pushcart Prize as well as numerous other awards. He authored eight books of poetry, an epistolary novel and was editor of numerous anthologies. His work has appeared in over 100 journals.

Jay Meek, age 70, of Minneapolis is survived by his wife of 41 years, Martha George Meek; daughter, Anna George Meek (Matthew Gladue); granddaughter, Sarah Meek.  Beloved husband, father, grandfather and teacher.  Lover of baseball, travel, music and exactitude.  Man of ferocity, humor, compassion and integrity.

Information taken from the Star Tribune, published November 5, 2007.