Almut Renate Mc Auley

Almut McAuley passed away March 17, 2015, at her home in Cheney, Washington.  She had lived in Cheney for over forty years.  She was 72 years old at the time of her passing.

Almut Renate Nierentz  was born in Wreschen, Germany (now Poland) on March 22,  1942 to Herbert and Erika Nierentz.  Shortly thereafter they moved to Erfurt. She attended the University of Tübingen, Zurich University and the University of North Wales before emigrating to the U.S. in 1967.  There, she became the first person in the country to be awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree in Translation from the University of Arkansas, and was also awarded the Dudley Pitts Prize for Translation by the faculty.

Almut was married to James J. McAuley for 13 years and is survived by her two sons, Owen and Rory, two brothers, Lothar and Detlev, her grandchildren Oscar and Alice, and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was proudly naturalized as a US citizen in 1983.  From 1977 to 2005 she was an English instructor at Spokane Falls Community College, and from 1984 to 2005 was the faculty advisor of the Wire Harp literary magazine.  The Wire Harp Lit Live! Fund, which sponsors readings at the college by visiting writers, was established in her honor after her retirement.

Almut loved animals and throughout her life provided a loving home for many cats and several dogs, and diligently fed the birds, squirrels and whatever else happened to live on her property. She also loved reading and gardening, and was a fervent supporter of the arts, humanitarian causes and environmental causes.

A small, private memorial will be held for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the SFCC Wire Harp Lit Live! Fund. Please contact the CCS Foundation page: http://www.ccs.spokane.edu/foundation/, where you can donate online or by mail.