CLIFF, WE’LL MISS YOU: Dana Gioia, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, issued the official statement today: “It is with deepest sorrow that I announce that Cliff Becker, Director of Literature at the National Endowment for the Arts, died on May 17 of a heart attack.” It was a shock, as Cliff is someone I worked with at the NEA from 1993-95. He was only 40 years old, a hard worker with a wicked sense of humor who loved good writing and books. He leaves behind a lovely wife and daughter. He survived the Newt Gingrich-instituted decimation of the NEA staff in 1995 and later became interim director of the literature program, then director. I served as his guide during a May 1998 road trip to Wyoming as he promoted the Endowment’s ArtsReach grants for under-served states. I told Cliff to wear his dark D.C. suit for all our meetings. “They won’t believe you’re from the NEA if you don’t dress the part,” I told him. He knew I was pulling his leg but went along with it, for awhile anyway. We plowed through a blizzard in Yellowstone and a big blow near Greybull. Laura Bell served us coffee and cake at the Old Stone School near Shell. Cliff met tons of people on his trip. Wyoming organizations applied for – and received – five grants. I’ll let Gioia the poet have the last words: “We are heartbroken by Cliff’s sudden and untimely death. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. All of us at the NEA grieve with them at this great loss. Cliff was an important part of the fabric and personality of the Arts Endowment. He was beloved by his colleagues. And he loved them. During his 13 years at the Endowment, he nurtured our Literature programs with an understanding of how literature can open the heart and mind to a new and greater understanding of the world. He was widely respected in the field for his regard not only for the written word, but also for those who write and those who read. He will be missed deeply.” Amen.

- posted by Michael Shay @ 2:42 PM