Suze Rotolo passed away last week after a battle with lung cancer.  She was 67.

Rotolo was an activist, artist, writer and teacher. 

She was also, for a time, muse to the 20th century's greatest song writer, Bob Dylan. 

Through her relationship with Dylan in the early 60's, Rotolo introduced the young musician to the leftist politics that would define his work during one of the most creative periods.  She appeared alongside Dylan on the cover of his legendary second album, and a prolonged sorjourn to study in Italy, during which the couple were separated, led to the composition of some of the greatest heartbroken songs of Dylan's career.

Her 2009 book,  A Freewhelin' Time: A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties, is an excellent read for anyone interested not only in Dylan, but also the 60's, New York, politics, ethnicity, theater, feminism, music and art. 

In the book, she describes Dylan as the "elephant in the room of my life".  That life has now come to an end, but Rotolo's memory will live on in some of the most beautiful, sad, angry, funny and passionate songs ever written. 

Oh, but if I had the stars from the darkest night
And the diamonds from the deepest ocean
I’d forsake them all for your sweet kiss
For that’s all I’m wishin’ to be ownin’

For more see:

Examiner

Guardian

Rolling Stone

New York Daily News