Studs Terkel passed away today. There is a certain sadness in my and rIAm’s hearts today with this news. Studs was 96, and not in the greatest of health the last few years, and, apparently, especially so the last two weeks. So he had a darn good run, and boy did he make the best of it, publishing at a clip of a book a biennium (that’s one every two years for those of you scoring at home) since about 1977.
I’m sad, nonetheless, because Studs became intertwined in my love of Chicago. rIAm and I attended his session at the Printer’s Row Book Fair a couple years ago mostly at my insistence (although rIAm heartily agreed), and since then it’s been hard to figure out who is the bigger fan. I will always remember, from that session, Studs answered a question about people living in suburbs instead of cities. “You have to remember,” Studs said, “they [the suburbanites] are people too.”
But it was clear that Terkel was fiercely proud of Chicago, of city life, of the neighborhoods and people who make up the fabric of city, and Chicago life. That pride is one I shared, but Studs’ was contagious. And when I brag about Chicago, one of the reasons I say it’s great is because it’s the home of one Studs Terkel.
Rick Kogan, who was pretty well inseparable from Studs in public appearances lately, has a beautiful obituary published.
This wouldn’t be complete without mention of how and who Studs wrote about. It was the everyman and woman, the ones who aren’t famous – aren’t “important” (Joe the Plumber aside) – but through the voice they are given by Studs become enormously important. One of the finest stage productions I’ve seen in Chicago – indeed, anywhere – was based on Studs’ work Race: What Blacks and Whites Think and Feel About the American Obsession. Some of the books I’m most proud of owning were penned by Studs.
It also broke my heart – and was indeed rIAm’s first utterance after I shared the news of his passing – that Studs will not be around this Tuesday to see the potential election of America’s first black president. But it is in part thanks to Studs and his long legacy that it is even possible for that to happen on Tuesday.
This is the end of an era, and one I’m very sad indeed to see go.
