Rane Arroyo Memorial Reading at CAC Saturday

Bunchs Lunchbox  |  06/16/2010 7:00 am

Toledo suffered a terrible loss this past month when Rane Arroyo passed away suddenly.

Rane was a creative writing instructor at the University of Toledo, where he influenced a remarkable number of students and budding young writers, including myself. Rane had a unique iconoclastic spirit, and a heart as big as his soul was deep. With these three assets, and a clever, if curious, insight and intellect, Rane taught his students not just about writing, but about self-pride, standing up for what's right, and how to make your way in a world that doesn't seem to care about you. In a university with a growing disdain for arts and English students, Rane was a true champion of student's rights, and the value they offered their university and community.

All of these things were, of course, guided by Rane's unique story and battle as a gay Latino, as well as his unique climb from obscurity to fame. Truthfully, most things about Rane were unique. At the time of his death, Arroyo had published an almost-unheard-of ten books of poetry and short stories in less than as many years. He was a brilliant writer and a brilliant man who purposefully kept a low profile in Toledo, despite his fame and acclaim on the national level. “I'm very famous,” Rane used to tell me, with his trademark mischievous giggle, “People here don't know,” he would say. And then he'd tell me how he'd just gotten off the phone with Toni Morrison or some other literary giant. That was my favorite part of Rane, the fun and mischievousness he found in almost every corner of life.

As much as it saddens me that he's gone, and what a detriment to future creative writing students at UT that will be, I am glad now to see the community rising up to support him and share the legacy he kept so secret locally. On Saturday, June 19, a group of poets, writers, readers, students, and others who Rane touched in his time here will gather at the Collingwood Arts Center (2413 Collingwood Blvd.) to honor a true local legend, and contemporary poetry giant. Th hours of the event are 4 ? 6:30 p.m., and it will be hosted by CAC resident poet and Covert Press operator, Michael Grover. The event will benefit Paws & Whiskers, a local organization that was a favorite of Rane's.

I hope you'll come out and support the memory of Rane, as well as the local writing community. For more information on the event, please visit www.collingwoodartscenter.org, or call 419-244-ARTS.

Unable to make this one? There will be another memorial event held for Rane later this month. Rainbow Festival: Tribute to Rane Arroyo will take place on Saturday, June 26 from 2 - 3:30 p.m. at MVUUC, 20189 N. Dixie Hwy., Bowling Green. For info, visit the Facebook invite here.