Lee Sandlin Obituary

As a genealogical writer, The Distancers grabbed my attention when it appeared in the Reader in 2004. What a master of prose. Mr. Sandlin did me the honor of autographing one of the Distancers segments when he spoke at the Newberry Library in 2011. Gone much too soon. His writing will live on.

A reviewer often reveals as much about himself as about the author he's reviewing. And the impression that Lee Sandlin made in his WSJ review of James Jones' work was of a man who was knowledgeable, thoughtful, and independent-thinking. Then, just as I was admiring him, I came to the touching end of his review and encountered the shocking news that this writer I had just "met" had died as he was editing the piece I had just read. Perhaps oddly, it felt like a loss. You ought to know that this man could affect a reader as quickly as he did

Nina, I thought I would add my condolences. I knew Lee long ago. I just wrote something to some of my friends and hope it not amiss if I add it here:

Yesterday, I found out that an old friend of mine from high school, New Trier, in Winnetka, Illinois, which I attended before my family moved to Florida after my tenth grade year, died a week ago Saturday. We lost touch after I moved, but when I knew him he was my favorite person to talk to, and we talked about all sorts of things, books mostly, science fiction in particular, but all the ideas in the books as well. He wanted to be a writer and went to the University of Chicago after high school. The last time I actually saw him was one night in 1975 when I was visiting Illinois on my way to Cornell. I had borrowed the car of the family friends I was staying with and didn't really know what to do, so I just drove somewhat aimlessly through my old neighborhood. It was raining. No, really raining. Hard. I made an ill-advised turn onto a side street running by my elementary school and found the street flooded with more than a foot of water. It killed the engine and, not quite knowing what to do, I got out and walked down two blocks to an International House of Pancakes. My friend was sitting at a table telling a couple of other people whom I vaguely knew the story of his summer, hitchhiking through Iowa. He was an amazing raconteur, even then, and had the skill and instinct that could turn anything into a story that would have everyone listening intently and laughing uproariously.

So that was the last time I saw him. Obviously we were not close in life, but for me, at least, he was always close in mind. He did become a writer and I saw pieces he had written occasionally. Some were short and sharply observed reviews. Others were long and strangely rambling essays on subjects like the interstate highway system. In the last couple of years he seems to have achieved increasing recognition and had started to find publishers for books. I bought his book Wild River as a Christmas present for myself a year ago. Now, alas, he has died. His name was Lee Sandlin.

Nina, please accept my support and condolences in this difficult time! I have been following Lee's writing career for a while. His books and essays will not go unnoticed!
Marina S

Nina, I just found out from Marina that Lee died so suddenly. I know you guys were such a close couple.If there is one good thing that can be said about his passing is that you were right there with him. Tanya

May you find the courage to face tomorrow in the love that surrounds you today.

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.