Murray Wolfe

MURRAY WOLFE

Cedar Rapids

Murray Wolfe died Aug. 23, 2015.

Born in Czechoslovakia in 1934, he fled the Holocaust with his family in December 1939 to New York City.

He was married to Charlene Sciarrino, had two daughters and two grandchildren and, at his death, resided in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

An award-winning artist, playwright, poet, producer, director and publisher, Murray's poetry and translations of Yiddish poetry have appeared in numerous magazines and periodicals. They include Partisan's Review, California Quarterly, Poetry LA, Shirim, Poetry Miscellany, Webster Review, Blue Unicorn and Art Scene. He was occasional co-host of the Poetry Connexion on KPFK-FM, Los Angeles. He had done performance readings of his works throughout Southern California, Europe and now in Iowa. He has lectured on Translating Poetry at the University of Judaism, UCLA, Hebrew Union College and LA City College.

His first book of poetry, published in 1981, is, in his words, "blessedly" out of print. He has written 10 full-length plays, including two musicals, which he wrote the book, words and music. All have had full- staged readings at First Stage Hollywood (various casts and directors). He has over two dozen one-act plays to his credit. His play, "Boomie Katz," directed by Austin "Rocky" Kalish, had a successful seven-week run at the Bitter Truth playhouse in NOHO.

He is survived by his wife, daughters, grandchildren and a sister.

Burial was in Los Angeles. A memorial service will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at his home.

Memorial donations may be given to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.

Please leave a message or tribute to the Wolfe family on the Web page, www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.