Tony Hillerman Dies at 83

Tony Hillerman, the award-winning author of many works of fiction and non-fiction - primarily the Leaphorn/Chee novels - passed away yesterday. He was 83, and the cause of death was pulmonary failure. According to the AP, Hillerman's daughter, Anne Hillerman, said her father's health had been declining in the last couple years and that he was at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque when he died at about 3 p.m yesterday. He is survived by his wife, Marie and six children.

Deanne Stillman has a wonderful tribute to Hillerman at LA Observed, as does Henry Kisor, and Marilyn Stasio writes the obituary for the New York Times. The LA Times reprints a 1988 profile of Hillerman by Charles Champlin.

UPDATE: More tributes roll in from the Christian Science Monitor, Jacket Copy, Matthew Hansen, Art Taylor, Stephen Bodio, Rose Mary, and Prairie Sun Rising.

Comments

[I.J.Parker]

Very sorry to see this. Hillerman was probably my favorite American mystery novelist. I've read all of his books, as well as his autobiography. He truly deserves our respect as a writer and a man.

[Naomi]

What I.J. said.

[Cameron Hughes]

Sadly, I never read him, but he has my respect that he wrote books until the end.

[Connie Bell]

I started reading the Hillerman books after we moved to Ruidoso NM in 1995. I have read all of his books and was always amazed at the authenticity of the descriptions, etc. He was truly one of the best mystery writers and I will miss reading his books...I just may have to start all over with his Leaphorn/Chee mysteries.

[gary williams]

I first met Tony in the 60's, at the home of E.A. Perkins, during a Christmas party. He was there to thank Mr. Perkins for reviewing his new book. I have enjoyed every book since and will miss Jim Cree and Lt. Leaphorn.

[lydia puttemans]

As Belgian tourists my husband and myself visited New Mexico and Arizona several times. Reading Tony Hillerman's books was like visiting the region once again. From all the mystery writers I've read, Tony Hillerman is truly the best.

[O. J. Collins]

New Mexico has, for many years, held an attraction for me and I visit friends there whenever I can. Tony Hillerman was able to bottle some of the atmosphere of the state and package it in his popular writings. Whenever I want to get a whiff of New Mexico, I can open one of Tony's books and almost smell that light air. Willa Cather was the only other writer who could cast that sort of spell.
I am happy that Tony left Joe and Jim to remind us of him.

[John Huey]

I also have not read his books, but I plan to do so. I am a courier and listen to audio books - I just finished 'Seldom Dissapointed" - his autobiography read by himself. I feel as if I have lost one of my best dear friends!

[Dorothy Jones]

My mother, an ex school teacher discovered The Hillerman novels after she was 80 years old. She read and re-read them for the following 17 years...until she died last summer. I am now 74, and an ex librarian who has read and re-read Hillerman's work, mostly because they are entertaining novels and because I grew up in the four corners area, and my father worked at the Uravan and Naturita Mills in the forties...and later at the Hanaford Project in Washington. Those of us lived in that area traveled indian country and the big rez to and from the mines, the mills and jobs with the AEC...including down around Monument Valley and Grants N.M. The Navaho worked the mines around Ship Rock and Moab. The Christian Science Church had a program to innoculate the babies, but found it difficult to persuade the mothers that sticking needles in their babies was a good thing...as did my mother. I will miss Tony Hillerman, and my long trips back to the reservation...Rest in Peace good soul. Dorothy Jones.