Photo credit: Jess X. Snow
We are devastated to share sad news about a beloved friend, poet, and Kundiman Mentorship Lab Fellow and Kundiman Retreat Fellow, Theo LeGro. On March 6th, Theo passed away after a courageous battle with breast cancer. We send our deepest condolences to Theo’s family and loved ones.
In 2021, Theo became a Kundiman Mentorship Fellow, and, in 2023, Theo attended their first Kundiman Retreat. We are so lucky to be able to spend time with Theo and their ferocious, beautiful, and tender poetry. Here is a poem that we love called The Good Life. Here is another gorgeous poem Inheritance, which has a recording of Theo’s remarkable voice. And, finally, here is a stunning poem called All There Is that was published as part of our 20th Anniversary folio with The Offing.
“I was privileged to read an early version of their book of poetry Don’t Let It Kill You, which is, from start to finish, just an astonishing work,” said Cathy Linh Che, Executive Director of Kundiman. Theo’s collection Don’t Let It Kill You, Winner of the 2025 Lexi Rudnitsky First Book Prize in Poetry, will be released this June; we invite everyone to pre-order it from Persea here.
Theo’s loved ones are planning a memorial reading, which will take place April 9th, from 5:00 PM–7:00 PM ET at Blinky’s at 609 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11221.
If you have the means to donate, please consider a contribution to a burial and memorial service fund that Theo’s care team has set up for their family.
To further Theo’s legacy, and at the request of Theo’s care team in support of the causes that they were passionate about, Kundiman has also established a scholarship fund in their name for queer and disabled writers seeking funds to attend Kundiman craft classes, workshops, or the Retreat. Anything that is not used in the memorial fund will go towards the scholarship fund.
Theo’s loss is immeasurable, and we will miss them so much.
Theo with their home group at the 2023 Kundiman Retreat. L to R: Lauren Bullock, Hazem Fahmy, Michelle Peñaloza, Helene Achanzar, Preeti Parikh, and Theo LeGro. Photo credit: Jess X. Snow