William Joel Hart, Jr.

William Joel Hart, Jr., 78, succumbed to Covid-19 complicated by underlying lymphoma and respiratory issues. Born in Wichita KS, to William Joel and Louise (Loy) Hart, he graduated from East High (1963), attended the University of Kansas (1963-67) and Wichita State University (1977-79). He received his Ph.D. in 1985 from the University of Southern California. Alongside his academic career, he worked as a machinist in Wichita and as an unskilled laborer in Denver CO and Ashland OR while developing a career in writing. His last teaching position was in the English Department at California State University, Los Angeles from which he retired in 2000 and devoted himself full time to his poetry and prose. He resided in Montrose, CA at the time of his passing and is survived by his wife Jayasri, brother John in New Hampshire, and innumerable relatives, friends, students, associates and well-wishers around the globe. Arrangements were under the direction of Douglass & Zook Funeral and Cremation Services, Monrovia, California. Obituaries can be found in the Los Angeles Times and the Wichita Eagle on Sunday, March 12 and on the websites of both publications. The virtual memorial on Monday, March 27 will begin at 8am Los Angeles time. The host Transglobal Entertainment is offering Zoom participation, Livestream viewing and chat, and uploading of messages to be included in the event. If you are not already on the guest list and would like to participate, please contact jayasrihart@earthlink.net.