Mary Rudge, Alameda's Poet Laureate, Dies

Mary Rudge, Alameda's poet laureate, died on Monday, according to an obituary published today in The Alamedan.

She was the author of several books, including volumes of poetry, Jack London's Neighborhod and most recently Ipagpatawad Ninyo Kami (Pardon Us), Poems for the Philippines, about Filipino life in Alameda and the Philippines, co-authored with Amy Estrada. The authors planned to donate their royalties from the book toward helping typhoon victims in the Philippines.

An Alameda resident for more than five decades, Rudge raised seven children here and started an annual poetry contest for Alameda students. She was named the city's poet laureate in 2002.

You may read the complete obituary in The Alameda here.