Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Friday, January 19, 2007 at 12:00 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Obituary

Art Buchwald, columnist and Pulitzer winner, dies at age 81

Art Buchwald, 81, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper columnist, died of kidney failure Wednesday at his son's home in Washington, his family...

The Washington Post

WASHINGTON — Art Buchwald, 81, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper columnist, died of kidney failure Wednesday at his son's home in Washington, his family announced Thursday.

Buchwald zinged the high, mighty and humor-challenged in his column, which he wrote for more than a half-century and which at one point was syndicated to more than 550 newspapers, including The Seattle Times. He also published more than 30 books.

Last year didn't start well for the writer. Kidney and vascular problems forced doctors to amputate one of his legs just below the knee in January, and Buchwald opted to not have dialysis. In February, he entered Washington Home and Community Hospices, which he described as "a place where you go when you want to go."

But by July, despite his physicians' predictions, Buchwald left hospice. "Instead of going straight upstairs, I am going to Martha's Vineyard," he wrote.

He finished his last book, "Too Soon To Say Goodbye," there, and it was published in November. Buchwald kept his sense of humor until he slipped into unconsciousness just before he died, said his longtime friend, Washington Post Vice President at-Large Benjamin Bradlee.

"I just don't want to die the same day Castro dies," Buchwald told his friends, Bradlee said.

The political satirist went out with a twist:

"Hi, I'm Art Buchwald and I just died," he announced with a grin, in a video posted on The New York Times Web site. Buchwald recorded the video interview last summer, to be shown after his death.

Death and dying became fodder for the column that he continued to write through 2006, mining the topic as regularly as politicians, scandals and news of the day.

Shortly after he entered hospice last February, he organized his last hurrah by calling up gossip columnists and radio talk show hosts to declare, "I'm still alive!" His March 7 column began, "I am writing this article from a hospice. But being in the hospice didn't work out exactly the way I wanted it to. By all rights I should have finished my time here five or six weeks ago — at least that's all Medicare would pay for."

Before death and dying became part of his columns, politics was a favorite jumping-off point. He said his favorite president was Richard Nixon, whose delusions made for rich satirical material. "I worship the very quicksand he walks on," Buchwald quipped.

Buchwald also wrote about his bouts with mental disorders with a frankness that won him new fans around the country. He had been hospitalized for clinical depression in 1963 and for manic depression in 1987. Both episodes nearly drove him to suicide, he said; drugs and therapy were his salvation. He joked to friends that if he had a third bout of depression, "I will be inducted in the Bipolar Hall of Fame."

advertising

A memorial service is being planned, the family said.

Survivors include three children, Joel Buchwald, of Washington, Connie Marks, of Culpeper, Va., and Jennifer Buchwald, of Boston; two sisters; and five grandchildren.

Material from The Associated Press is included in this report.

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

Senate Democrats split on health bill's fate

UPDATE - 04:05 PM
SC gov faces 37 charges he broke state ethics laws

U.K. started planning early for war, leaked papers show

Vaccine to kill nicotine buzz now in late tests by small drug firm

India's feeling bruised even before White House visit

Advertising

Video

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.

Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle
Chittenden Locks Inspection
Full interview with New Moon actors

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Less is more: Group rides, good gas mileage have led to a scooter swarm in Seattlenew
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment

Advertising