VQR Managing Editor Kevin Morrissey Has Died

By Jason Boog 

vqrlogo.gifKevin Morrissey, the managing editor of the Virginia Quarterly Review, has committed suicide. The Charlottesville, Virgina-based editor was 52-years-old.

His friend and co-worker Waldo Jaquith explained in a post: “This morning, shortly after 11:00, my friend and boss Kevin Morrissey took his own life at the coal tower. He left his apartment, walked down Water Street and called the police to report a shooting at the coal tower, a shooting that actually came shortly thereafter. A lifetime of grappling with depression combined with recent stresses proved too much for him.”

Shelf Awareness has a short interview with Morrissey about the books and writers he loved. An excerpt: “I have to admit that I was one of those geeks who liked reading the encyclopedia, but I do remember devouring all the Henry and Ribsy books by Beverly Cleary.”

Jacket Copy has more details about the life and death of this literary journal editor.