Nichita Stănescu

Stănescu's father was Nicolae Hristea Stănescu (1908–1982).

His mother, Tatiana Cereaciuchin, was Russian (originally from Voronezh, she had fled Russia and married in 1931).

Nichita Stănescu (born Nichita Hristea Stănescu; 31 March 1933 – 13 December 1983) was a Romanian poet and essayist.

Stănescu married Magdalena Petrescu in 1952, but the couple separated a year later.

Nichita Stănescu graduated from the Ion Luca Caragiale High School in Ploiești, then went on to study Romanian language and literature at the University of Bucharest, graduating in 1957.

He made his literary debut in the Tribuna literary magazine.

His editorial debut was the poetry book Sensul iubirii ("The Aim of Love"), which appeared under the Luceafărul selection, in 1960.

In 1962 he married Doina Ciurea.

He also was the recipient of numerous awards for his verse, the most important being the Herder Prize in 1975 and a nomination for the Nobel Prize in 1980.

In 1982 he married Todorița "Dora" Tărâță.

For much of his career, Stănescu was a contributor to and editor of Gazeta Literară, România Literară, and Luceafărul.

The last volume of poetry published in his lifetime was Noduri și semne ("Knots and Signs"), published in 1982.

A heavy drinker, he died of cardiopulmonary arrest.

He is buried in Bucharest's Bellu Cemetery.

There is a national poetry festival and an award named Stănescu in his honor.

In Ploiești, there is a high school named after him.

In Pipera (Voluntari) a new road has been named in his honor.