Some wonderful obituaries are coming out about Judith Krug, Director of ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom, who died this week. My favorite tribute is this one:

Religious Right Censors’ Worst Nightmare: Why We’ll Miss Judith Krug

It ends with this great suggestion:

If you would like to honor her memory and annoy the Religious Right at the same time, I have the perfect suggestion: Read a banned book.

Reading the obits from the L.A. and NY Times may cause bouts of “what have I done with my life”:

NY Times, Judith Krug, Who Fought Ban on Books, Dies at 69

L.A. Times, Judith F. Krug dies at 69; advocate for librarians opposed censorship 

The repeated themes are “tireless” and “force of nature,” but one thing they don’t mention is the sparkle in her eyes. I remember seeing it we both went to the Association of American Publishers annual meetings, back in the days when they were held in lovely locales. With a naughty smile, she’d make it clear she intended to get full enjoyment out of whatever setting we were in.

Fittingly, her family has asked that  memorial contributions be made to The Freedom to Read Foundation, 50 East Huron, Chicago Illinois 60611.

The NY Times reports that Michael Crichton left two partially-completed novels behind when he died. The first, Pirate Latitudes will be published Nov. 24th The second, an untitled techno thriller will be published in the fall of 2010.

Don’t miss the story about Friday’s memorial service for Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz in today’s Shelf Awareness:

In Celebration: Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz

Many of you knew Jean Scrnecz, B&T Sr. VP of Merchandising (translation: head of buying and inventory management), who was killed in a plane crash in Buffalo last month. Today’s Shelf Awareness has a touching recap of the memorial service held for her last Saturday.

In her honor, B&T has created a scholarship fund in her name for the children of B&T employees. Donations can be sent to the Jean Srnecz Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Baker & Taylor Foundation. For more information, e-mail btfoundation@btol.com.

Mystery writer Barbara Parker died on Saturday. She was 62.

An obituary/tribute in the Miami Sun Sentinel attests to her importance to her various communities. Her agent, Richard Curtis, wrote a personal tribute on his blog.

She was best known for the eight books in her “Suspicion” series, featuring Miami lawyers Gail Connor and Anthony Quintana. The Booklist review of Suspicion of Rage (2006) said,

This series has been around for a while, but it hasn’t yet reached the point where the characters feel too familiar or its plots have drifted into formula. The interpersonal dynamics between Connor and Quintana remain sharp, and the Florida setting continues to add to the appeal. If Parker keeps writing them as smartly as she has written this one, her series may never turn stale.

World-renowned science fiction writer Philip Farmer died this morning at his home in Peoria, Illinois. He was 91. Most well-known for his Riverworld and World of Tiers series, he won numerous awards, including three Hugos. 

PJ Star, Philip Jose Farmer dead at 91

This is off topic, but we thought you’d like to know:

Maybe it’s not completely off topic, though; how about a memorial display, featuring the book:

Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets
by Clinton, Hillary Rodham
Unfortunately, no longer in print.

Buddy, who did not get along with Socks (which is the reason that Socks went to live with President Clinton’s secretary, Betty Currie, when the Clintons moved to Chappaqua, NY) died after he was hit by a car in 2002.

A service in honor of the two librarians killed on their way to the Denver Airport, while returning from ALA MidWinter, has been scheduled for March 20th. Kevin McCarthy, director of the Perrot Memorial Library in Old Greenwich, CT, where the two worked, told the local newspaper, the Greenwich Time, that “everyone in the world is invited.” 

March 20, 3:30 p.m.
First Congregational Church of Greenwich
108 Sound Beach Ave
A reception will follow at the library, at 90 Sound Beach Ave. in Old Greenwich

As a result of the accident, two counts of vehicular manslaughter and two counts of leaving the scene of the accident have been filed in Denver against Sandra Lee Jacobson. Since then, Jacobson was out on bond and was arrested two more times, for driving on a suspended license and in an effort to increase her bail, which has been raised to 200,000.

Jacobson has had many run-ins with authorities. In an earlier incident, she pleaded guilty to running a red light and crashing into another vehicle, sending the driver to intensive care. She is also facing a jury trial in March for illegally owning a Bengal tiger cub. In 2005, she was charged by the FTC in a pyramid scheme and was banned from the marketing industry.

A touching tribute to Kathy Krasniewicz and Kate McClelland, killed in a car accident on their way to the Denver airport following ALA, appeared in the NY Times “Connecticut” section on Friday.

New York Times, 2/13/09, Library Recalls Two Who Made It Better, by Gerri Hirshey

Yesterday’s Greenwich Citizen features a long article on librarians Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz, who were killed last Wednesday by a hit-and-run driver, on their way to the airport in Denver, as they were returning from MidWinter. The article adds some new information to earlier stories.

It includes a photo of the information desk at the Perrot Public Library, which has become an ad hoc memorial, awash in flowers and cards.

The Citizen interviewed a spokeswoman from the Denver District Attorney’s office, who said that Denver residents are also affected by the loss,  

We can only imagine how it has touched your community, but we would want you all to know how much it has also touched this community, in spite of the fact that we did not have the pleasure of knowing these two women. This tragedy has sparked an incredible amount of compassion, anger about what happened. It has been a long time since I have seen the amount of e-mail and phone calls on a case.

The families of both women are quoted, asking that people make donations rather than sending flowers.

Donations in memory of Kate McClelland may be made to:

Perrot Memorial Library
90 Sound Beach Avenue
Old Greenwich, CT, 06870

Connecticut Storytelling Center at Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Ave.
Box 5295
New London, CT 06320

Donations in memory of Kathy Krasniewicz may be made to:

Perrot Memorial Children’s Department
90 Sound Beach Avenue
Old Greenwich, CT, 06870

Obituaries:

Kate McClelland — text on ALSC Web site, Obituary for Kate McClelland

Kathy Krasniewicz, Greenwich Time

As we reported earlier, ALSC is gathering tributes on their Web site.

The families are planning private memorial services. The Perrot Library is planning a public service for some time in early March.

The Perrot Memorial Library in Old Greenwich, CT, announced plans for a memorial service for Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz in a message on the library’s blog yesterday,

The Staff and Board of Perrot Memorial Library deeply thank each of you who have shared a thought, shed a tear, and expressed your emotions and remembrances for our dear friends and beloved colleagues, Kathryn McClelland and Kathleen Krasniewicz. The response from the Greenwich community, the Connecticut Library and the American Library Association communities, the storytelling community and the publishing industry has been astonishing. We are planning a Celebration of Life Memorial Service in Old Greenwich in March at the Spring Equinox to honor Kate and Kathy’s memories. We will post more information on our website and blog as it becomes available.

The future is not ours to know, and it may never be –
So let us live and give our best and give it lavishly!
-An Irish Blessing

The Greenwich Time published an obituary for Kathy Krasniewicz, with this information on a memorial service for her, as well as information on where to send donations in her memory:

Family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, February 5th from 3pm to 8pm at the Bosak Funeral Home, 453 Shippan Avenue, in Stamford, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am on Friday, February 6th at the St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, 4 Riverside Ave., in Riverside, CT.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Kathleen Krasniewicz’s memory to the Perrot Memorial Library Children’s Department, 90 Sound Beach Ave., Old Greenwich, CT 06870.

A guestbook is available on the Greenwich Time’s site for people to write tributes to Kathy.

In an article in Monday’s Stamford Advocate, Kate McClelland’s daughter, Lauren Mendoza asked that donations in Kate’s honor be sent to:

The “Littlest Listeners” program
Connecticut Storytelling Center in Residence
Connecticut College
P.O. Box 5295
270 Mohegan Avenue
New London, CT 06320

The Stamford Advocate reports that the woman accused of being the hit-and-run driver in an accident that killed librarians Kate McClelland  and Kathy Krasniewicz in Denver, has been charged.

Kevin McCarthy, the director of Perrot Memorial Library in Old Greenwich, CT, where the two women worked, told the Advocate there will be a memorial to the two women and, while it’s too early to discuss details, it could include a “special program, collection or scholarships” named in their honor.

McClelland’s daughter, Lauren Mendoza, is quoted, thanking people for their support. The article also states,

Well-wishers may send donations to the “Littlest Listeners” program at Connecticut Storytelling Center in Residence at Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Avenue, P.O. Box 5295, New London, CT 06320.

The New York Times reports today that children’s book illustrator and author Blair Lent has died of pneumonia on Jan. 27. He was 80 and lived in Cambridge, MA.

He won the Caldecott in 1973 for The Funny Little Woman and a Caldecott Honor in 1969 for Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky. He also is known for illustrating Tikki Tikki Tembo, among many others.

Several new articles have appeared about the deaths of libraians Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz in Denver. No information has appeared yet about plans for a memorial.

ALSC is gathering tributes on their Web site — at this point, there are 100.

News articles:

• Sorrow in Old Greenwich: Visitors mourn loss of librarians, Greenwich Time, CT – Jan 30, 2009
• Suspect in fatal car crash has run afoul of the law before, Rocky Mountain News, CO – Jan 29, 2009
• Honoring memories of Perrot librarians, Letter, Greenwich Time, CT – Feb 1, 2009
• Driver cites NyQuil in fatal crash, Rocky Mountain News, CO – Jan 30, 2009
• Women’s deaths leave library family stunned, Rocky Mountain News, CO – Jan 29, 2009
• Woman held in DIA fatal also charged in tiger case, Denver Post, CO – Jan 29, 2009

The ALSC web site is gathering tributes to Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz, who were killed in a hit-and-run accident on their way to the Denver airport last week. ALSC has also posted a photo of Kathy, taken at MidWinter and one of Kate at ALA in Anaheim. Both the photos and the tributes capture the vibrancy of the two women.

What a loss.