Paul Prensky Remembered

Longtime local civil libertarian and pundit Paul Prensky was found dead in his Blair Avenue apartment Sunday, March 6. He had been in deteriorating health for some time, and suffered from congestive heart failure. He appears to have died in his sleep Saturday night. He was 69.

He is remembered by his family as “a brilliant poet, activist, actor, playwright, newsletter publisher, events organizer, lover of humanity, true friend to his friends, loving father to his sons, to his daughter, brother to his brothers, son to his mother, proud grandfather, spirit-filled drummer, wearer of buttons upon buttons upon buttons, registered nurse, elder companion, accurate reader of I Ching, and so, so, so much more.”

A memorial celebration of life is being planned for 3 pm Saturday, March 13, at the Deadwood Community Center on Deadwood Creek Road, five miles north of Highway 36. For directions call 964-5691. To carpool, contact Joan Dobbie at dobbiejoan@yahoo.com

Prensky had “some of his happiest years” in Deadwood, says his son, Reuben, who can be contacted at rprensky@sd43.bc.ca or through Facebook at http://wkly.ws/es A second memorial gathering is being planned at Growers Market in Eugene. Call 484-6145 for updated information.

Paul Prensky, Paul Harrison and Ruth Duemler founded The OTHER Paper that published progressive news and opinion for several years in Lane County. Presnsky also published a monthly Calendar of Days and an illustrated newsletter called This Week With Teeth. In one issue in 1998 he called for the formation of a Civilian Review Board to oversee complaints against police, a change that would not happen for another decade. He produced a play about Ben Linder, and wrote many letters and commentaries about local and national politics for area newspapers. His more recent pieces can be found by searching for his name in the EW website archives. A videotaped KWVA interview featuring him can be found at http://wkly.ws/ep

In his prose and poetry about homelessness, labor rights, the environment and other issues, he “showed his concerns for those often ignored,” says Ruth Duemler. “He was always on target and never afraid to speak up for justice, and he will be sorely missed.”

Fellow activist Carol Berg Caldwell remembers him as a “bongo player by candlelight” who helped form the Homeless Action Coalition and was a strong supporter of the police auditor Dawn Reynolds.

“He was a colorful and smart man,” she says, “and he knew how to live cheaply, and share what he had.”
In one of his newsletters in 1998, Prensky wrote, “Nature is benign and indomitable. We take our cues from her. As for civilization, it sounds like it’d be a good idea.”