Nancy Klotz
Nancy Lee Anne Ruth Treu Klotz passed away peacefully September 13, 2023, just short of her 90th birthday. She was a letters member of the Atlanta Branch.
Nancy started as a busy housewife raising three children in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The family moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Greenwood, South Carolina; and finally, Atlanta, Georgia, where she has been for the past 42 years. She became a nontraditional student, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English from Mercer University, and started her love of teaching English as a second Language at Dekalb Tech.
She retired from teaching after 20-plus years. Throughout the years, Nancy’s passion for writing really expounded. She was a member of the Atlanta Poetry Society, Atlanta Writers Guild, American Pen Women-Atlanta Chapter, and the American Rosie the Riveter Association. Her poems won numerous awards in the Southeast and internationally. However, her greatest accomplishment was in publishing a historical fiction novel, “Murder at Indigo Springs.”
We will miss her dearly.
— Submitted by Irene Cooper
Patricia Dennis
August 20, 1949 – December 14, 2023
Member in art and letters, past vice president, Santa Clara County Branch
Today, I remember a remarkable soul, Patricia Dennis, whose life was an artistic tapestry woven with creativity and passion. This is evident in her many award-winning photographs displayed in many museums, galleries, and publications.
Patricia’s brushstrokes and lens captured the essence of beauty in animals, landscapes, and the world around us. Her creative spirit not only illuminated her art, but also ignited a spark within those fortunate enough to know her. Through her guidance, I found my artistic voice and confidence, stepping into the world of creativity with newfound assurance. It was Patricia and ShaRon Haugen who convinced me to join NLAPW, which changed my life for the better.
Patricia’s leadership as vice president of the National League of American Pen Women, Inc. was a testament to her unwavering commitment to promoting the arts and supporting fellow artists. Her strength as a businesswoman, coupled with her passion for art, made her a driving force in the artistic community.
Her humor was infectious, her wit sharp as a well-honed pencil. Patricia’s candidness, delivered in a delightfully sarcastic manner, was always honest and true. Her laughter filled our painting sessions, whether in person at Cyra’s house or connecting through virtual sessions during the challenging times of the pandemic. Those moments were not just about art, but about the camaraderie, the shared joy, and the bond we forged through our mutual love for creativity.
In her memory, let us carry forward the lessons she taught us — the importance of fearlessly pursuing our passions, the value of mentorship, and the strength found in honest connections. Patricia’s legacy lives on not just in her art, but in the lives she touched, the inspiration she instilled, and the laughter she shared.
May her spirit forever dance among the canvases, landscapes, and snapshots of life, reminding us to embrace our creativity and live boldly, just as she did.
Rest in peace, dear friend. Your artistic brushstrokes will forever paint the canvas of our hearts.
—Submitted with love and fond remembrance by Marcia Sivek
Caryl Huffaker
Caryl Huffaker, 92, passed away September 20, 2023. Born in Richmond, Virginia, she grew up in Virginia and Argentina. She graduated from Middlebury College and did graduate work at the University of Vermont and Columbia University.
In 1998, Caryl became a letters member of the Diamond State Branch. A resident of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, she wrote a tongue-in-cheek column, “Downwind,” that appeared in the Kennett Paper and the Chadds Ford Post. She also reviewed plays, museum exhibition openings, and black tie galas and wrote travel and feature articles. Her feature articles appeared in the Wilmington News Journal, Country Lines, The Pen Woman, and other publications.
Caryl brought a smile to branch meetings and a love of life that was inspiring.
— Submitted by Sandra Seaton Michel
Betty Prisendorf
Betty Prisendorf (Letters), a loving wife, mother, and friend, passed away in October 2023 at the age of 88. She is survived by her son, Joseph.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Betty was a graduate of IRCC Nursing School and received her Bachelor of Science from St Joseph’s College of Maine. A retired registered nurse, she was one of the pioneers of hospice in Florida.
A lover of the arts, Betty was a voracious reader and began writing after being inspired by a high school English teacher who said, “Never stop writing.” She wrote poetry, plays, and short stories. In 2008, she was named Senior Poet Laureate of Florida.
With her poem, Last Letters, Betty won second place and publication in Women’s Voices of the 21st Century, sponsored by Greenwich Pen Women. Her poem, Third Planet From the Sun, won first place and is online with Great Spirit Publishing.
A resident of Merritt Island, Betty was a member of many organizations, including Newcomers of Brevard, Playwrights Workshop, The Red Hat Society, The Humane Society, The Space Coast Poetry Club, Florida State Poetry Club, and The Academy of American Poets. She volunteered with Hospice and was a member of UU Friendship Fellowship church.
Betty requested no memorial services. In her memory, please commit many “random acts of kindness” and help your local Humane Society.
Mary Joan Meagher
Mary Joan Meagher, Minnesota Branch, passed away surrounded by her family at age 95. She will never be forgotten. She was our senior member, mentor, president, newsletter editor, and, above all, beloved friend.
A poet, author, and artist, Mary Joan taught English, speech, and drama for 35 years. She became producer and script writer for over 20 years for “The Time of Our Lives” cable TV show in Bloomington and taught journal writing. Her poetry was published many times in books and magazines, nationally and locally.
She wrote for magazines, published children’s books, and also became known as a watercolor artist. As a textile artist, she created one-of-a-kind purses.
Mary Joan’s last endeavor was to collaborate with composer George Berglund as a lyricist and illustrator for religious choir music to produce a book of their work.
—Submitted by Ute Buehler
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Off I flew to London, Canterbury, and the villages of England where a little child stood up to ask cruel adults for more food, where orphaned mudlarks thronged the relic-strewn banks of the Thames River, where an eccentric maiden aunt rescued her battered and abused nephew, where I was transported out of loneliness by words, sentences, and paragraphs crafted by a timeless genius into my magic carpet. |
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