In Memoriam: Marjory Bassett


Marjory Bassett, VCCA Fellow and writer, died on January 18, 2009, in New York City, at the age of 88. She was an amazing and vibrant character–a vivid presence at the VCCA during fourteen writing residencies from 1985 to 2001. Marjory’s memorial service will be held at the National Arts Club (NAH) in New York City on Monday, February 2 at 4 p.m. Long-time chair of the Literary Committee at the NAH, Marjory published fiction and nonfiction in various magazines and newspapers, including the Philadelphia Inquirer and Newsday. Her novel, Never Say Start Naked, was published in 2002.

This past autumn, Fellows, staff, and friends of Marjory’s celebrated the renovation of W4, her favorite studio, in her honor. The renovation was led by fellow Fellows Mary Page Evans, Susan Jackson, Buffy Morgan, and staff member Cora Tabb. On October 28, 2008, VCCA Fellow Lisa Dickler Awano and O. Aldon James, President of the National Arts Club, paid tribute to Marjory at the NAC during a reading by members of the Literary Committee. Susan Jackson spoke that evening about the VCCA studio renovation in Marjory’s honor and the relationship between the two institutions that Marjory helped to nurture. We are grateful that these tributes were paid when Marjory was still with us. We hope she knew how much she meant to us, and we will miss having her in this world.

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