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Donald Sheehan died peacefully in his home in South Carolina on the morning of May 26th, surrounded by family and friends. Beloved by so many who came in contact with him at the Frost Place, Don was living in Franconia and teaching at the now defunct Franconia College when he was hired as founding director of the Robert Frost Place in 1978. For almost thirty years, the Place's programs and grounds were in his charge. To many who came to the Frost Place's summer conferences, established poets and aspirants alike, the Place was Don Sheehan. The man was famous for his profound and lyrical introductions to readers of poetry.

"I myself was involved with the Frost Place almost from the beginning," says poet Sydney Lea, "first as a faculty member in 1978 and on and off in that capacity for many years. I served on the Frost Place Board for twenty years and as its chair for fourteen. What chiefly endeared Don to me as director was his insistence that no hierarchies exist in that neighborhood; the Pulitzer poet was no more valuable to the programs' vitality than the rankest beginner in a workshop. Those with big reputations, and all others, were made to understand that small-d democracy would be the order of the day in Franconia."

"Don was also somehow lit from within. Though I did not share his Eastern Orthodox allegiances, it was easy enough for me to notice that, when Don entered the room, the atmosphere calmed and people began to behave better. I will miss him greatly."

Deming Holleran, currently Board chair, recalls the extraordinary gaze Don had, "looking at you with his clear blue eyes as though he were seeing directly into your soul. Don's mark on the Frost Place was profound and lasting. Speaking to poetry conference participants, he always said: 'Your job here is to love the poems of someone else and to desire their improvement; this, oddly, will make your own work grow.' His legacy continues, and we are greatly saddened by his passing."

The Frost Place is setting up a fund in Don's memory, the Donald Sheehan Fellowship, which will generate income to support annually an emerging poet as teaching fellow at one of the summer conferences. Checks may be sent to the Frost Place, P.O. Box 74, Franconia, NH 03580 for this purpose.

 

 

 

Here follows the obituary notice which Don's family sent to various newspapers: