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Curiosity and a Cat Named Studs

Legendary Chicago writer Studs Terkel celebrates 95 years on May 16, and a new book this fall

By Laura S. Washington

By the time you read this, Studs Terkel will have had a big birthday. On April 16, a month before he turned 95, I visited his stolid brick home in Uptown on Chicago’s north lakefront. While he’s had his “ups and downs” in recent months, his eyes still twinkle with the promise of more stories to tell. He waved me… return to article

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    Page 1 of 1 pages

    Studs,

    Dear friend, we’re really gonna miss ya.  But not to worry.  Ya done good.

    Like Molly and Kurt and so many, some well known and others mostly anonymous, you’ve carved out a niche in our hearts and minds that will survive as long as there are people standing up for the underdog, seeking justice and liberty for all, speaking truth to power.

    May we never forget the gifts you’ve given us, and be forever grateful.

    United States Posted by luminous beauty on May 15, 2007 at 8:43 AM

    “Ann Coulter, Bill O’Reilly. Don Imus is just one of them. He happens to be stupid.”

    Yeah but lets not forget the Al Frankin’s and Michael Moore’s as well. And stupid is fine, but let’s add liars - they are all liars. What the hell, if we are going to judge, lets judge ‘em all! (But be very careful, they are merely reflections of ourselves, in the long run. Which is why they are so very successful.)

    United States Posted by wolf on May 22, 2007 at 2:46 PM

    Studs---

    I’m so glad you are writing your memoirs, and I very much look forward to it! 

    I started reading your books when I was a teenager, “Working” was the first book I read, and I’ve been reading your stuff ever since...that’s a...few years, to say the least.  Hearing you on your show on WFMT was always such a delight!

    You have truely left a legacy Studs....would it be so that your works be required reading of....everybody. Perhaps, just perhaps, we might not be in such a mess as this country currently is in.

    You are a treasure Studs.....and I thank you!

    “Take it easy, but....take it!”

    Debbie Rowan
    Concord, CA
    (originally from Chicago)

    United States Posted by drowan on May 23, 2007 at 6:19 PM

    I’ll miss you too, Studs.

    I’m currently reading what right now is your scariest book, “Hard Times” — talk about those who don’t learn from history.

    My suspicion is you chose to leave rather than watch another re-run.

    There are still a couple of your books I have not yet read, but with the current state of TV I think I read your last next just to get a hold of some historical perspective.

    P.S. I hope some of your tapes will be available — uncut — they’d be great!

    I’ll be along before too long.

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Nov 1, 2008 at 12:39 PM
    Page 1 of 1 pages

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