David Kermani
David Kermani
David Kermani is an internationally-renowned lawyer and author. He currently holds a partner position at Dentons US LLP.
He is a well-known foreign policy commentator who frequently appears on CNN, Al Jazeera and Voice of America.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Emory University and also holds a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center.
Early Life and Education
David Kermani, born in Albany, New York in 1946 and an Iranian-American, earned a BA in American Civilization from Brown University and an MA in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures from Columbia University. For seven years from 1977-1982 he served as director of the Tibor de Nagy Gallery in New York City.
In 1970, Kermani met John Ashbery and the two quickly formed an unbreakable friendship. To honor Ashbery’s memory, Kermani began compiling a comprehensive bibliography of Ashbery’s work which was published in 1976.
Over the years, he has managed Ashbery’s business operations and helped establish a foundation to preserve her home in Hudson. Recently, he has traveled to Poland, parts of the former Soviet Union and Iran – home to his ancestors’ suffering – for exploration.
Professional Career
David Kermani’s career has been one of countless highlights, encompassing business management, publishing and performing. His most illustrious achievement was 25 years as president of the Albany Symphony Orchestra where he spearheaded their rise to national prominence in classical music.
His passion for art led him to New York’s Tibor de Nagy Gallery and then, to his family’s oriental rug business in upstate NY. Additionally, he served as director of Friends of Olana, a nonprofit that oversees Ashbery’s home in Hudson, NY.
He was an avid reader and collector of literature and fine art, particularly works by contemporary poets. He had a particular admiration for John Ashbery’s intricate, delicate works which often defied easy comprehension.
Achievements and Honors
David Kermani is an eminent author with an impressive list of accomplishments and honors to his name. These include receiving a fellowship from the University of Louisville and spending one year as a visiting scholar at Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. Additionally, David has penned multiple award-winning novels as well as numerous essays, reports and monographs that have been published internationally.
He is widely credited as being the first to publish “Wise Men Talk About Women,” a work of fiction set during the turbulent early 1960s during the Cold War. With an extensive career in literature, he held various posts at universities including Michigan and New York before retiring to Hudson, NY where he currently resides.
Personal Life
John Ashbery was a remarkable poet whose delicate, poignant lines cemented him as one of the foremost figures in late-20th and early-21st century American literature. Tragically, he passed away Sunday morning at his Hudson home at 90 years old.
Kermani, Ashbery’s husband, stated that the poet passed away of natural causes and was a gentle soul who avoided any attempts at inflicting his will upon others.
He was born in Albany, NY and spent most of his adult life living in Cologne, Germany. With an MA in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures from Columbia University, he has written extensively about art; serving as executive editor of ARTnews (1965-72) and an art critic for New York Magazine and Newsweek. Most recently he donated Ashbery’s extensive library to the Woodberry Poetry Room which will house it and manage its collection.
Net Worth
John Ashbery, whose exquisite poetic lines made him one of the most influential figures in late 20th and early 21st century American literature, passed away Sunday at his home in Hudson, New York at 90 years old. His husband David Kermani confirmed the news to The Associated Press.
Kermani first met Ashbery in 1970 and has maintained a close relationship with him ever since. Both share an appreciation of art-making processes, leading them to found their foundation which studies connections between artists and their environments. Furthermore, both share a mutual admiration for Rin Tin Tin who had a huge poster hanging above Ashbery’s stairwell at their Hudson house. Together they have two children – son and daughter – from this union.
