One of the greats is gone

[Angeline]

Studs Terkel, one of the keenest observers of American culture and life in general died this afternoon at the age of 96. Studs was born in St. Louis in 1912, "I came up the year the Titanic went down," he was known to say. He was a staple of the Chicago literary scene, a working class hero kinda guy who made his bones in a New Deal agency, a writers' project in the Works Progress Administration. He had a law degree, but never practiced law, he acted in early radio soap operas and wrote and acted in plays. He is best known though for his many books that were the result of interviews with everyday men and women as they coped with the issues of the day:earning a living, recounting their experiences in war, talking about living in a racially divided society and musing on the meaning of the American Dream. He had an endless supply of curiosity, good humor and under it all a charming almost childlike faith in the goodness of human beings. He was one of a kind. RIP Studs.

Here's a great link for exploring one of the best minds of the twentieth century.

 

[Tzara]

Studs Terkel, one of the keenest observers of American culture and life in general died this afternoon at the age of 96. Studs was born in St. Louis in 1912, "I came up the year the Titanic went down," he was known to say. He was a staple of the Chicago literary scene, a working class hero kinda guy who made his bones in a New Deal agency, a writers' project in the Works Progress Administration. He had a law degree, but never practiced law, he acted in early radio soap operas and wrote and acted in plays. He is best known though for his many books that were the result of interviews with everyday men and women as they coped with the issues of the day:earning a living, recounting their experiences in war, talking about living in a racially divided society and musing on the meaning of the American Dream. He had an endless supply of curiosity, good humor and under it all a charming almost childlike faith in the goodness of human beings. He was one of a kind. RIP Studs.

Here's a great link for exploring one of the best minds of the twentieth century.

I just saw this myself on CNN.com. What was characteristic about the man was his self-described epitaph: "My epitaph? My epitaph will be 'Curiosity did not kill this cat.'"

Oh, and maybe this: "The last time I saw him, he was up, about, and mad as hell about the Cubs," workshop President Thom Clark said in the statement.

Hey. Chicago guy. May he rest in peace.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

What a great name for a great man.

 

[Angeline]

I just saw this myself on CNN.com. What was characteristic about the man was his self-described epitaph: "My epitaph? My epitaph will be 'Curiosity did not kill this cat.'"

Oh, and maybe this: "The last time I saw him, he was up, about, and mad as hell about the Cubs," workshop President Thom Clark said in the statement.

Hey. Chicago guy. May he rest in peace.

When I was still in high school, my father handed me a copy of Working and said "Read this. You'll like this guy." I've been in love with Studs ever since. He conveyed such authenticity, very down to earth, an everyman who also happened to be a real Renaissance man.