NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. — The Bard College community and the literary world are mourning the tragic loss of Rebecca Cole Heinowitz, a celebrated poet, translator, and literature professor who drowned over the weekend in the fast-moving waters of Northern California’s Yuba River.
Heinowitz, 50, of Barrytown, New York, was last seen Saturday evening struggling in the river’s treacherous current while visiting the area with a friend. According to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, Heinowitz entered the water near the South Yuba River State Park—approximately 150 miles northeast of San Francisco—around 8:30 p.m. before disappearing beneath the surface.
Emergency crews responded swiftly, but the swift, cold waters and slippery terrain complicated recovery efforts. As of Tuesday, her body had not yet been recovered, and search operations remain ongoing.
Jason Robitaille, chief of the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, issued a statement expressing condolences: “Our hearts are with the family and loved ones during this difficult time. The South Yuba River can be deceptively dangerous, with strong currents and cold temperatures creating serious risks even for seasoned swimmers.”
While local officials have yet to release full details, reports indicate Heinowitz had been hiking with a friend when the incident occurred. It is currently unknown whether Heinowitz was familiar with the hazardous conditions in the area. Authorities described her as wearing a black two-piece swimsuit when she was last seen.
A Loss Felt Across Academia and the Arts
The news was confirmed in a heartfelt letter to the Bard College community from President Leon Botstein late Wednesday. While not detailing the accident, Botstein acknowledged the gravity of the loss and remembered Heinowitz as an irreplaceable part of the Bard faculty.
“Cole Heinowitz was an unforgettable and unique teacher and colleague,” Botstein wrote. “Her mind and personality were magnetic and singular. She combined a mesmerizing presence, uncommon perceptions, and a deep and intense enthusiasm for scholarship and art and the community of learning.”
Heinowitz was a distinguished scholar with a reputation for intellectual rigor, poetic brilliance, and a deep commitment to her students. Her work as both a writer and translator had earned her accolades across the academic and literary communities, and she was widely admired for her ability to bridge language, literature, and human experience with passion and grace.
A Legacy of Art, Thought, and Compassion
Heinowitz, a native Californian, joined Bard’s faculty with a unique blend of West Coast warmth and East Coast academic intensity. She authored several volumes of poetry and was respected internationally for her translations of Spanish-language avant-garde literature. Her courses were described by students as transformative, often combining literary analysis with philosophical inquiry and personal reflection.
Friends and colleagues have taken to social media to honor Heinowitz’s legacy, sharing stories of her captivating classroom presence, her generosity of spirit, and her enduring contributions to the field of literature.
“She was not only a brilliant scholar and poet, but a deeply kind and generous soul,” one colleague wrote. “She changed lives with her teaching, her intellect, and her compassion.”
As search crews continue their efforts in the Yuba River, Bard College has announced that memorial plans will be shared in the coming days. The college has also made grief counseling and support services available to students, faculty, and staff affected by the loss.
Rebecca Cole Heinowitz is survived by family, friends, colleagues, and a generation of students forever changed by her presence. Her voice—on the page and in the classroom—will be deeply missed, but her words and spirit will continue to resonate in the communities she so passionately served.