In Memory of Hannah Amgott
Author of In the Year of the Ox

With heavy hearts we share the very sad news that author Hannah Amgott passed away on September 8, 2005. Hannah found out this past spring that her cancer had returned, but was determined as ever to fight it. Following initial chemotherapy sessions, she suffered a subdural hematoma in June. She surprised her doctors by surviving even that and by August was back home under the care of her husband, Steven. Hannah suffered yet another setback on the night of September 7 and was rushed to the hospital where she died a few hours later. Our condolences go out to all of Hannah’s family, especially to Steven, daughter Elyse Lian Xia, and son Justin Mario Chavez, who joined the family in 2000 from Guatemala.

Hannah lived outside Philadelphia and was employed as Associate Director of Career Advising and Planning Services at Widener University. She had a rich career in teaching and educational program administration. She held a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Connecticut , a master’s degree in Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University, and a master’s degree in German from Middlebury College. In addition to German, she spoke some French, Russian, and “Dim Sum”—enough to enable her to order it in Cantonese during her family’s weekly forays to Chinatown. She was a great proponent of remembering and celebrating one’s “shining moments,” and truly enjoyed helping others “find their bliss.”

Hannah was the published author of several poems and of professional articles in the field of career development. In the Year of the Ox was her first book of creative non-fiction. Her essay, “Leap of Faith,” recently appeared in Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul.

Earlier this year, Hannah began writing a new memoir entitled Nice Jewish Girls in Pale Pink Genes, a tribute to the brave women in her family who have died of breast and ovarian cancer. Hannah will be greatly missed. Her love of life and family resonated across long-distance phone lines and via e-mails. She never failed to include stories of daily challenges and simple joys, stories that revealed the fun she found in so many things as well as her ability to cope with the varied obstacles she’d been forced to face through the years.

We are dedicating the Pearl Street Publishing First Book Contest to Hannah whose In the Year of the Ox received the prize in 2000.

Eric Karl Anderson author of Enough, winner of 2001 First Book Contest writes about Hannah Amgott and In the Year of the Ox:

Hannah Amgott had the unfortunate task of staring her own mortality in the face again and again. She shows through her eloquently written journey In the Year of the Ox that it is still worth striving for what you most want in life while realizing that you may not be able to enjoy the fruits of your labour. The finely crafted poems interspersed with her autobiographical narrative convey how beauty and nobility are found amidst so much pain and suffering. What a brave and insightful story! It's inspiring to see someone write about her experience with such a vigorous passion for life.