Alan Soldofsky

Alan D. Soldofsky, 75, devoted husband and loving father, poet and retired professor of English and Creative Writing at San Jose State University, died peacefully on July 12, 2026 after a protracted illness.

Alan was born on February 12, 1951 in Fayetteville, Arkansas to Robert Soldofsky, retired Army officer and Economics professor and Marcella Soldofsky, artist and weaver, and raised in Iowa City, Iowa. A child of precocious intellect and an excellent student with interests in Geology and Literature, he completed both his Bachelors of Arts and Masters of Fine Arts Degrees at the University of Iowa before the age of 21. One of the youngest students to attend the prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop's Poetry Program, Alan moved to Oakland, California in 1973 upon graduating, together with Theresa Nelson whom he met at the University of Iowa. They were married in California in 1975 and shortly after Alan published his first books of poetry, Kenora Station (1976) and Staying Home (1977).

Having relocated to the Bay Area and started a family, Alan served as reading series manager at Cody's Books, as contributing editor at Poetry Flash, as a radio producer and host at KPFA-FM and as editorial director for the Commonwealth Club of California's newsletter. He taught in Oakland high schools and gave courses at University of California Berkeley and the University of San Francisco before joining the faculty of San Jose State in 1985 where he directed first the San Jose Poetry Center and then the SJSU Center for Literary Arts.

Alan was a dedicated teacher and advocate for the literary arts in San Jose and the greater Bay Area. As professor at SJSU, he guided many talented students and emerging writers to academic, artistic and publishing success. He also worked diligently to bring notable writers and thinkers from around the world to the city of San Jose for readings and seminars and to teach SJSU students. In 1999, he was appointed Director of the Creative Writing Program at San Jose State University.

In 2013 his book of poems, In the Buddha Factory, was published. The culmination of decades of poetic engagement and exploration, informed by his wide reading and his travels —specifically by a tour of mainland China— In the Buddha Factory represents a mature and comprehensive aesthetic statement that stands as Alan's offering back to the tradition of poetry which invigorated and inspired him.

In 1998 Alan met and fell in love with Interior Designer Pamela Pennington. They embarked upon a shared life of art and design, learning and travel that lasted many happy years through to Alan's last day. After 20 years of living in each other's warm company, steadfast through trials and triumphs, they were married in Costa Rica in 2018.

In 2024, Alan retired as Professor and Director of the Creative Writing Program at San Jose State University. His mentorship to students spanned nearly four decades. His passion, wealth of knowledge and care for those he knew and loved lives on in his community, in those who learned from him and those who keep his memory. Alan D. Soldofsky is survived by his wife Pamela Pennington, his sister Sue Anne Schmuck and her husband David Schmuck, his son Adam Soldofsky and his wife Dr. My-Linh Nguyen, his son Neal Piasecki-Soldofsky and his wife Michelle Piasecki-Soldofsky, and his grandchildren Eden Soldofsky and Ayla Soldofsky.

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