Dr. Donald Kenrick: R.I.P.

[Stoimen]

Text below has been written by Thomas Acton:

Dr Donald Kenrick, one of the great names in Romani Studies and activism, and a kind and generous friend to so many, died this morning at 3.15 am after suffering a heart attack in the West Middlesex Hospital, where he had been for about a week.

He was my mentor in scholarship, the person who taught me the international Romani language after I had learned English Romani, and the best man at my wedding. He worked with Ronald Lee on the first version of what has become the most effective Romani Course, and he interpreted at the first World Romani Congress. He gained his PhD for a Chomskian analysis of the Drindari dialect of Romani, and unlike many such, never lost his interest in and commitment to Roma Gypsies and Travellers. He was a strong and consistent supporter of the Gypsy Council for nearly 50 years.

I will write more when I have time and let you know when I have details of his funeral from his daughter Timna.

Thomas Acton

[Stoimen Vassilev]

Sorry for the lost. We hope he is in better place where "do need to fight not only for Romany, but for any rights"...