People bid farewell to Leonida Lari
https://www.ipn.md/index.php/en/people-bid-farewell-to-leonida-lari-7967_994565.html
People of culture, politicians and ordinary people gathered at the National Opera House on December 13 to say farewell to poet Leonida Lari, Info-Prim Neo reports.
Arcadie Suceveanu, the head of the Writers Union of Moldova, said the loss of Leonida Lari is huge for the culture and society of Moldova. The poet was a symbol of courage who knew how to combine the fragility of the feeling with the messianic illumination and civic militantism.
Ianut Turcanu, deputy head of the Chisinau Culture Division, said the loss is indeed enormous. “A friend of ours departed this life. God endowed her with talent, feminine beauty and everything. Leonida carried a burden that was to be carried by men. She remained a militant for the Romanian language and a kind woman – a mother of three,” he stated.
Poet Iulian Filip said that Leonida Lari formed a nucleus together with Grigore Vieru, Dumitru Matcovschi, Nicolae Dabija, Vasile Romanciuc and others. “We consider that the poets do not die when their poetry is in demand. Leonida’s poems are in demand,” he stressed.
Moldova’s first President Mircea Snegur said he was deeply affected by the poet’s death. “I had known our great patriot since the initiation of the National Renaissance Movement. The last time we met in Putna several years ago,” he stressed.
Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc sent a message of condolence, saying it was a painful loss for the family and a significant loss for all those who were her friends, approved her and were inspired by her.
Leonida Lari was born on October 26, 1949 in Bursuceni, Balti, in a family of teachers. She graduated from the Faculty of Philology of the State University of Moldova. She was the editor-in-chief of the journal “Literatura si Arta” (“Literature and Arts”) and editor-in-chief of the first publication in Latin script in Moldova “Glasul Natiunii” (“Voice of the People”).
She was a deputy in the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, a member of the Standing Bureau of the People’s Front of Moldova, and a member of the Parliament of Romania, in three legislatures.
Leonida Lari wrote 24 volumes of poetry and prose and translated poems from the universal literature. She was a citizen of honor of Bacau town and held the Order of the Republic. She won numerous prizes, including “Romania Mare” and the Romanian Academy’s prize for poetry “Mihai Eminescu”.
Leonida Lari passed away on December 11, being defeated by cancer. She was buried at the Central Cemetery on Armeneasca St.