LEWISBURG — Harold R. Bakst, 59, most recently of Lewisburg, passed away Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, after a courageous struggle with kidney cancer that was diagnosed in October 2012.
Harry was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., a son of Norman and Evelyn Bakst, who survive. He was married to Carmen Gillespie and was the loving father of Chelsea Gillespie and Delaney Bakst. Harry is also survived by his sister, Helen Bakst Sendroff.
He received his bachelor’s degree in music from Brooklyn College and a master’s degree in English from Hofstra University and a master’s of fine arts in creative writing from Columbia University.
Harry was a master teacher and was devoted to his students at the various institutions where he served as a professor. He taught courses in composition, literature (including short story, novel, poetry, American and World), creative writing, ethics, philosophy, western civilization and interdisciplinary humanities. In addition to his part time teaching at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Teaching and Research), Iona College, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Marymount Manhattan College, Kingsborough Community College, Pace University and Westerchester, he taught for 15 years at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Harry was teaching part time at Bucknell University until his illness intervened.
He was the author of several novels, including Kian, The Mariner, Prairie Widow and The Legend of Whiskey Stop. He was working on a fourth novel, Brooklyn Quartet and a book of poetry, Optics at the time of his death.
His untimely death is a profound loss to his family. We will miss him forever.
A family gathering will be held to remember Harry from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at his home, 55 Sunnyside Drive, Lewisburg. Friends are welcome to stop in and join the family during that time. A larger celebration of his life is being planned for the spring.
Expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cronrathgrenoblefuneralhome.com
Daily Item Obituaries
Harold R. Bakst, 59, Lewisburg
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