Poet, teacher Allen Planz of East Hampton dies

In many ways, Allen Planz was the atypical poet. He also was a professional sea captain and commercial fisherman. And family and colleagues knew him as an "emotionally intense" man.

"Allen wore his emotions on his sleeve . . . and he expressed that in his poetry," said George Wallace, a fellow poet from Huntington. "It's part of what gave his poetry power."

Planz, 73, of East Hampton, a fixture in the Long Island poetry community for 35 years, died Monday of heart failure, said his daughter, Laurel Planz of East Hampton.

Planz also was open when it came to family, his daughter said. They affectionately nicknamed him "Grumpy," she said, "because that's what he was and how we knew him. He always answered to it."

Born in Queens and an Army veteran, Planz received his master of arts in English from New York University in 1961. He taught English and literature at several schools, including NYU, Dowling College, Suffolk County Community College and Southampton College, his daughter said.

Planz was the 1982 poet in residence at the Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site in Huntington and held seminars and workshops in a wide range of settings, from elementary schools to museums to correctional institutions.

He was the author of seven books on poetry, an editor for The Nation and a 1976 winner of the Pushcart Prize, which honors writers of short stories, poetry and essays.

Planz said her father would most want to be remembered for his poetry, and Suffolk County poet laureate Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan agreed.

"I also think he should be remembered for being a mentor because that's what he was to me," said Nuzzo-Morgan, of Southampton. "He was always very supportive of new poets and always took the time at readings to help them."

Planz is survived by daughters Laurel Planz and Jody Day, of Danville, Pa.; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His wife, Doris, died in 1977.

His body was cremated, and his ashes will be spread at sea in a memorial service this summer, Laurel Planz said.