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| Stephen Morrissey and Barry Dempster |
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| From left, Karen Dempster, Barry Dempster, Carolyn Zonailo, Stephen Morrissey |
It's difficult to believe that Barry Dempster (1952-2025) is no longer among us. In the 1980s and 90s we corresponded, over two hundred letters, and I wrote many reviews for Barry who was the reviews editor at Poetry Canada Review. We all loved Barry Dempster for who he was, a good decent human being who had integrity and was committed to poetry and writing. Barry helped many poets and he helped build the poetry community; he touched many lives. You might read this book length interview (photo above) with Barry, it was published a few years ago, and it gives a real feeling of who Barry Dempster was; that was when I reconnected with Barry and learned of his illness. Carolyn and I visited Barry and Karen at their home in Toronto in March, 1992, here are three of the photographs taken that day. Rest in peace, old friend.
