We have lost a bright and mercurial presence in the world.
Anne Marie Marra, a fine slam poet, member of the White Plains Library National Slam Team in 2008, a quilt-artist, singer and a holder of an interdisciplinary Master's Degree with a concentration in Creativity, is now giving readings in the 'great beyond' of our memory. She will be missed very much by those left behind. National Slam Poet Anne Marie Marra, seen at the right performing during the 2008 National Slam competition, was a quilt artist, slam poet, wild child, a whirlwind. Anne Marie, also known as ArtisAnneMarie, held a master's in creativity from Vermont College. She died March 17, 2009 at her Putnam Valley home in New York State. Anne Marie was just a few months shy of her 56th Brithday.
The official bio says: "Anne Marie Marra, 55, a resident of Putnam Valley, passed away in her home on March 17, 2009. Born to Bridget Eufemia and Reginald A. Marra, Anne Marie was a multi-talented artist. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers, studied at Parsons School of Design in New York City, and earned a B.S. in Community and Human Services from Empire State College/SUNY and an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Vermont College. In order to embrace her life as a musician, singer, painter, poet and quilt-maker, she held a number of administrative and supervisory positions at New York University, College of New Rochelle, Consumer Reports and Empire State College. Most recently, Anne Marie's poetry found her reading at venues in New York and Connecticut. She was one of the rotating hosts of the 3rd-Friday Open Readings at the Hudson Valley Writers Center in Sleepy Hollow, and she competed in Wisconsin at the National Poetry Slam this past August, as a member of the 2008 White Plains Poetry Slam team. Anne Marie is survived by one brother, Reggie Marra, of Naugatuck, CT, his wife, Marianela Medrano-Marra, and their son, Noe Jimenez."
The funeral took place on Monday March 23, 2009 at Whalen & Ball Funeral Home, 168 Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10703. Bural followed at at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. A life-celebration for Anne Marie on June 27, 2009 was held at the home of Reggie Marra & Marianela Medrano-Marra in Naugatuck. It was well attended.
About the photos: At the top, AM performing her Colonoscopy poem at the 2008 National Slam in Madison WI, photo by teammate James Joseph Buhs. AM reading a poem at Molten Java in Bethel CT, Then two team photos one in front of the Bowery Poetry Club and one in front of the Lizard Lounge, and below: AM in front of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, AM singing a love song at Dangerfields.
