We are sad to hear of the death of Terry Van Vliet, he was 89 and had been suffering with dementia. Terry was an older cousin of Don’s, and also born in Glendale. His parents were Harold and Winifred Vliet. Like Don, Terry reclaimed the ‘Van’ for the family name.
He went to Lancaster Valley High, the same school as Don. It was here that Terry developed a passion for poetry and literature. When he moved to Las Vegas for a while he joined a small theatre group and found another passion, acting.
He returned to Los Angeles and tried to pursue an acting career. After struggling for a time as an actor specialising in ‘English gentleman’ roles he decided to train as a teacher.
He went on to teach British and American Literature as well as a course on Existentialism. Judging by the comments on the Immaculate Heart High School social media he was a much loved and respected teacher. He is well remembered there for his annual Christmas reading of The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde.
In February 2011 Terry took part in Gary Lucas’ Captain Beefheart Symposium at the Independent in San Francisco when he read his poem “Captain Beefheart at the Roxy”
This poem is included in Terry’s book of poems, Black Lines on Terracotta (Blaze Vox : Buffalo 2011) described by one critic as ” celebrating Apollonian beauty and erotic desire. …. Family, friends and the vivid characters that abound in Los Angeles, London or Paris become his subjects.”
A more detailed biography can be found in his obituary here
