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Jonathan David Ezekiel
- Published: September 14, 2017
Jonathan David Ezekiel
Jonathan David Ezekiel, born Aug. 9, 1952, formerly of Derwood, Md., died Sept. 8 of a heart attack in Yellow Springs.
He is survived by mother Bernice Ezekiel Brant, of Dayton; son Edward, of Atlanta, Ga.; sister Judith, of Yellow Springs; niece and nephew Clara and Eizo Lang-Ezekiel; and a large network of loving cousins. He was preceded in death by father Herbert and brother Michael.
Jonathan graduated from Colonel White High School and Yale University, and did graduate work at George Washington University. He applied his brilliant and rigorous mind to everything he did.
Jonathan worked as a researcher and an editor in the publishing industry for years, including research work on the criminalization of the mentally ill. He recently helped Susan Stefan with her 2016 book with Oxford University Press, “Rational Suicide, Irrational Laws: Examining Current Approaches to Suicide in Policy and Law.” She said of him in her introduction: “Research assistance beyond my wildest dreams was provided by that peerless researcher and poet, Jonathan Ezekiel (this is the closest my publisher can get to printing your name in neon).”
Jonathan was a prolific poet and an avid walker who frequented Gaunt Park daily. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
3 Responses to “Jonathan David Ezekiel”
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I was friends with Jon when he lived in Washington, DC in the late 70s. 40 years ago this month, I was studying for the DC Bar. Jon was a very supportive friend, and always a wonderful conversationalist. I am saddened to learn of his passing. My condolences to his family.
I miss his voice and his brilliant mind and passionate curiosity. He loved his son very much. This is very sad. My heart goes out to the family on this sudden loss. There will never be another playful poem, shining with his love of wordplay, waiting in my email box again. I am so so sorry.
Susan Stefan
I have been missing Jon’s poems for the last few days. I never went so much as a week without hearing from him, and I had gotten desperately worried. Now I find this. This is the silencing of a brilliant and innovative voice, and a curious and passionate mind. He loved his son very very much. Everything I wrote about him in the acknowledgements of my book was true. This is such a loss–my heart goes out to his family.
Susan Stefan