Dear Members of the Norman Mailer Society,
It with regret that my first official email as President of the Society bear sad news. As you may already know, Barbara Wasserman passed away yesterday, Sunday, January 18th, at the age of 98. It is my understanding that her final days were spent surrounded by family and festooned with love.
Barbara was a founding and stalwart member of the Norman Mailer Society, and by all accounts its most prominent and proud matriarch. In her support of the Society and Mailer’s legacy, she seconded the motion to create the Lucid Award, authored insightful accounts of her brother’s life and times, and attended almost as many NMS conferences as have ever been held (with Peter Alson close by her at every turn). In the face of age and infirmity, Barbara kept growing and exploring and learning with all of us. Her passing is like the closing of a generational chapter in America, and her voice amid our curious chorus will be sorely missed.
Please join me in offering condolences to Peter and the entire Mailer family during this difficult time.
Matthew S. Hinton