It is with profound sadness that we report the tragic death of Rebecca Cole Heinowitz, a widely respected poet, translator, and beloved professor of literature at Bard College.
Heinowitz, 50, drowned in a rushing river in Northern California during an accident confirmed by authorities on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Recovery efforts to locate her body have continued into a fourth day, with treacherous conditions in the river hampering search efforts.
Heinowitz was an exceptional literary mind, a devoted teacher, and a generous mentor whose influence stretched across disciplines and continents. Her sudden death has sent shockwaves through the academic and literary communities, where she was known not only for her brilliant intellect but for her compassion, wit, and fierce dedication to truth and beauty in language.
A longtime faculty member at Bard College, Heinowitz specialized in comparative literature and poetry, with a particular interest in Spanish and Latin American literature, modernist poetics, and translation studies.
She held a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Irvine, and her teaching was marked by an ability to make complex texts accessible and urgent. Students often described her as “life-changing,” citing her ability to challenge them intellectually while nurturing their personal and creative growth.
As a poet and translator, Heinowitz’s voice was deeply original. She was the author of several acclaimed works, including translations of key Spanish-language texts, and her own poetry was noted for its fearless engagement with themes of identity, power, and the natural world.
Her translations brought the works of overlooked and politically engaged Latin American poets to English-speaking audiences, helping to preserve and amplify voices that might otherwise have gone unheard.
In addition to her scholarly and literary work, Heinowitz was a cherished friend and colleague. Known for her warmth, sharp sense of humor, and generosity of spirit, she built lasting bonds with students, writers, and fellow educators. Her office was a safe haven for many, a space filled with books, art, and laughter.
Authorities believe Heinowitz was swept away by fast-moving waters while hiking near a remote section of river in Northern California, an area known for both its beauty and its danger in springtime when snowmelt leads to strong currents.
She was reportedly traveling alone, seeking the kind of solitude and connection with nature that often fueled her creative process. Despite days of intensive search efforts involving local law enforcement, search-and-rescue teams, and volunteers, the recovery has been delayed due to dangerous conditions.
In an email sent to the Bard College community, President Leon Botstein expressed the college’s deep sorrow and praised Heinowitz’s legacy: “Rebecca was a singular force—an uncompromising thinker, a brilliant writer, and a devoted educator.
Her loss is incalculable. We mourn not only the passing of a colleague but of a visionary whose life’s work profoundly shaped this institution and the lives of all who knew her.”
The Bard community will hold a memorial gathering in Heinowitz’s honor at a later date, and grief counseling services have been made available to students and faculty.
Rebecca Cole Heinowitz leaves behind an enduring body of work and a legion of students and colleagues who will carry forward her legacy of intellectual rigor, creative courage, and humane engagement. She is survived by her family, friends, and countless readers whose lives were touched by her words.
In the face of this heartbreaking loss, we remember Rebecca not only for what she gave to the world of letters, but for the integrity, generosity, and brilliance with which she lived her life.
