Muriel Rukeyser died on February 12, 1980, in New York City.
Muriel Rukeyser passed away in New York City on February 12, 1980, at age 66. Her death, resulting from a stroke and complications from diabetes, marked the conclusion of a prolific life dedicated to the advocacy of social justice through poetic excellence. Her passing was a significant loss to the literary community; however, her extensive body of work, engagement in activist causes, and influence on subsequent generations of writers endure as her enduring legacy.