Very Sad News: Elmore Leonard Passed Away This Morning
Elmore Leonard passed away this morning at 7:15 am. My boyfriend was his researcher of 30-plus years, and I knew and loved "Dutch." He took big bites out of life every day of his life for 87 years, and died in his sunny writer's room, surrounded by his family, who loved him.
Bloomberg obit.
By the way, Elmore was writing until the end, working on his next novel. Three hours before his stroke a few weeks ago, he told Gregg on the phone that he didn't want to fly to accept an award "Because I just want to write my book." Love that.
Nice piece by our friend Mike Lupica, who loved the hell out of Elmore and was a good friend to him.
So sorry Amy, I know you were all close. It sounds like he had an ideal death though- family, friends, a safe comfortable place...
Eric at August 20, 2013 7:26 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/08/20/very_sad_news_e.html#comment-3867672">comment from EricThanks, Eric. Very sad, but he was surrounded by those who loved him all this month (and in general), and he is a guy who did not waste the life he had, and he was always fun as hell to be around. I loved his devilish grin.
Amy Alkon at August 20, 2013 7:33 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/08/20/very_sad_news_e.html#comment-3867674">comment from Amy AlkonPhoto of Elmore and his son Peter from Mantua, from the lit fest we all went to. (Scroll down.)
This shows Elmore as Elmore.
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2007/09/09/all_the_news_th_2.html
Didn't take many photos of him because Gregg did and when Elmore was around, we were all too busy having fun.
Amy Alkon at August 20, 2013 7:35 AM
My condolences to you both, Amy.
:(
Sabrina at August 20, 2013 7:47 AM
Oh, no! I've been enjoying the small-screen adaptation of Justified.
I R A Darth Aggie at August 20, 2013 7:57 AM
I really enjoyed his works and the range of his screenplays.
Sounds like a wonderful job to have had and a wonderful person to have known.
jerry at August 20, 2013 8:06 AM
Oh Amy, I just saw this. I'm SO sorry, my condolences to you, Greg, and Elmore's family, I know how close you all were.
He was a great writer, I have a lot of his books and always enjoyed reading (and re-reading!) them.
Such sad news. But his words will live on!
Flynne at August 20, 2013 8:12 AM
I'm so sorry to hear this. Please accept my condolences.
Old RPM Daddy (OldRPMDaddy at GMail dot com) at August 20, 2013 8:24 AM
Very sad.
I always enjoyed his books and the unique characters he created.
Conan the Grammarian at August 20, 2013 8:29 AM
My condolences to you, and Gregg on the loss of a friend.
Jim P. at August 20, 2013 8:42 AM
Nobody wrote dialog like he did. Reading his books was like looking at great art. We're all a little poorer for his passing. RIP
MarkD at August 20, 2013 8:53 AM
I'm so sorry, Amy. It's hard to lose a friend.
Suzanne Lucas at August 20, 2013 9:01 AM
Sorry to hear it, Amy. He'll live on between the pages.
Martin at August 20, 2013 11:11 AM
That man has given me a lot of entertainment over the years. I love his writing style and fantastic stories.
whistleDick at August 20, 2013 11:46 AM
So sorry to hear this news! At least you all have the comfort of knowing he lived his life on his own terms and got everything he could out of it.
sheepmommy at August 20, 2013 1:44 PM
Jezebel pulled a great Elmore quote from a L.A. Times 2012 interview:
"A few years ago, my researcher gave me this photo: a female marshal in front of Miami’s courthouse—this Colombian drug trial. It was her and another marshal, and she was just standing there with a shotgun, hip cocked and angled, holding it half up. And I thought, She’s a knockout. And she’s a book."
rosalind at August 20, 2013 3:22 PM
Condolences
wtf at August 20, 2013 3:43 PM
Amy, I'm so sorry for the loss of Elmore -- the world is a duller place without him in it. Please pass my condolences on to Gregg.
marion at August 20, 2013 8:29 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/08/20/very_sad_news_e.html#comment-3868774">comment from rosalindI love how Gregg did that and how he often anticipated what Elmore would need. That was "Out Of Sight."
Amy Alkon at August 21, 2013 6:28 AM
Someone (ahem) was kind enough to facilitate my getting a signed copy of "Road dogs" and I will treasure it even more now. His passing is a real and substantial loss to American letters.
And a nod of agreement on "Justified:" best show on the box these days. Eagerly awaiting its return.
BlogDog at August 21, 2013 10:51 AM
That's sad news. My deepest sympathies to Gregg and you. A damn good writer has left the world. I first heard of Elmore through your blog, and I look forward to reading more of his books. It's sad that there'll be no more new ones. He's left a rich legacy that will live on long after his passing.
DS at August 21, 2013 1:53 PM
My condolences to you and Gregg, Amy.
Feebie at August 21, 2013 8:57 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/08/20/very_sad_news_e.html#comment-3869810">comment from FeebieThanks so much, Feebie.
Amy Alkon at August 22, 2013 5:30 AM
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