Dave Church papers (Ms.2011.035)

Biographical note

The poet Dave Church was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1947, one of eight children. He grew up in Lincoln, Rhode Island on a dairy farm. He attended LaSalle Academy but decided to leave during his senior year before graduating in order to travel and study the Beat poets. Church had an eclectic work history as a roofer, bouncer, and street barker before forming his own house painting company and finally working as a cabdriver. All the while he was publishing his poetry in numerous literary journals and corresponding with many writers and editors. He published at least 8 poetry chapbooks and one of prose. He was married three times and had a son, Jonathan, and a daughter, Michaela. He died in his cab of a heart attack on November 27, 2008.