Gil Ott

 

Gil passed away this morning. He was the first poet I ever associated with the city of Philadelphia & has been a friend now for nearly 25 years. When I moved here in 1995, I discovered that what I’d always imagined about Gil – that he was the heart & soul of the Philadelphia poetry community – was utterly true. From his work with the Painted Bride & the magazine Paper Air, to Singing Horse Press & his own books of poetry & prose, Gil was an amazing worker, as generous & intelligent & gentle a human being as ever existed. He was a good husband, a great father & a great friend.