[Maryann Corbett]

Anna Evans has posted this heartbreaking news on the Facebook page for Poetry by the Sea.

"Dear Friends,

I need to share some unwelcome news. Our beloved Conference Director and community leader, Kim Bridgford, has been fighting Stage 4 cancer since she was diagnosed with it in March, and has now entered hospice care. I know you will be shocked and saddened by this news, as I was myself. The family suggests texting her or messaging her with your thoughts and prayers, or you can reply to this post.

Kim is an amazing person whose contribution to our community has been life changing. The 2021 Conference will go on (COVID-19 permitting) as a celebration of her life, work and vision.

May everyone be well and safe.

Warmly,

Anna Evans, Board Member, Poetry by the Sea"

I think Sphere members not on Facebook or Twitter will want to know and to send their love to Kim and her family.

[Cally Conan-Davies]

I'm shocked and sorry to hear this, Maryann. Just trying to absorb it . . .

Thank you for bringing the news.

Cally

[Jayne Osborn]

Maryann,

This is such terribly sad news, but thank you for letting us know.

I had some lovely email exchanges with Kim in January, regarding attending Poetry by the Sea this year. Since then Life - and the whole world - has turned upside down... we could never have predicted any of this would happen in the space of a few months.

My heartfelt wishes go to Kim, her family and to Anna.

Jayne

[Orwn Acra]

What terrible news.

[Quincy Lehr]

I'm terribly sorry to hear this. She has been one of the most important builders of our community.

[Susan McLean]

Thanks for letting us know this news, Maryann, sad as it is. Kim has been a major force for positive changes in the poetry world, and is a wonderful writer herself. I have loved attending both the West Chester University Poetry Conference and Poetry by the Sea when she ran them, and I had very much been looking forward to attending the latter this year, which sadly did not happen because of the pandemic. It seems horribly unfair that she has had to contend with cancer on top of all the other unfairness that she has faced. I have nothing but respect and admiration for her quiet resolve and the way she has kept moving forward despite all of the challenges, and kept writing through it all.

Susan

[Aaron Novick]

I'm very sad to hear this.

[Maryann Corbett]

At the Facebook account of Poetry by the Sea, this announcement appears this morning:

"It is with profound sadness that we share this news.
Kim Bridgford peacefully passed early this morning, with family by her side."

Very hard news.

[Susan McLean]

Thanks for letting us know again, Maryann. Sometimes a short life has a huge impact. Hers certainly did, and she will be missed terribly in many far-reaching circles.

Susan

[Julie Steiner]

She used her time well, to build "Some tower of song with lofty parapet" (L4 of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's sonnet "Mezzo Cammin").

Here's her essay welcoming visitors to the The Mezzo Cammin Women Poets Timeline Project.