6-4-12: Remembering Dudley Clendinen

The writer Dudley Clendinen died last week at age 67. We speak with people who knew him, and hear from Dudley both before and after his diagnosis of ALS.

Dudley Clendinen, 1944 – 2012

Dudley Clendinen and Tom Hall in the WYPR studios in October 2011.  Photo by Stephanie Hughes.

The writer and journalist Dudley Clendinen died today in Baltimore after a year and a half long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.  Dudley worked as a reporter and editorial writer for The New York Times, and was the author of several books, including  Out for Good: The Struggle to Build a Gay Rights Movement in America, on the evolution of the gay rights movement, and A Place Called Canterbury: Tales of the New Old Age in America.  He remained in his home until he was moved to hospice care at the Joseph Richey House earlier today.  He was 67 years old.

Dudley was open about his experience with terminal illness, both in the op-ed pages of The Times, and on Maryland Morning, where he spoke about the disease in a series of interviews with Tom Hall called “Living with Lou: Dudley Clendinen on a Good, Short Life.” 

Tom Hall’s remembrance of Dudley was broadcast on WYPR on Thursday, May 31.  You can listen above, or a transcript is available here.  The music used is “Ae Fond Kiss” by Corrina Hewat from My Favorite Places.  You can listen to it here.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 4, at 10 am at the Cathedral of the Incarnation on University Parkway in Baltimore. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Dudley’s name to the Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins or to Joseph Richey Hospice.

4-20-12: A Note on Dudley Clendinen

Tom Hall gives an update on the writer Dudley Clendinen, who we spoke with regularly during the series “Living with Lou: Dudley Clendinen on a Good, Short Life.”

3-7-12: An Update on Dudley Clendinen

An update on Dudley Clendinen, who is dealing with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

1-30-12: I Wouldn’t Have Missed It

The last in the series of conversations between Tom Hall and Dudley Clendinen, who’s been battling ALS for the past year.

1-16-12: The Body is Going Out

Dudley Clendinen’s physical condition is declining as he deals with ALS. He talks about how that affects the book he’s writing — and his plans for the future.

1-3-12: A Conversation That Will Go On

Dudley Clendinen talks about how having the chance to talk about his time Lou Gehrig’s disease has given him a sense of purpose.

12-12-11: A Noisy Body

Dudley Clendinen talks about the difficulties of concentrating on writing while dealing with a body that needs attention.

11-28-11: The Chance to Tell a Story

The writer Dudley Clendinen talks about how the opportunity to write a book is changing the decisions he make as he deals with ALS.

11-14-11: To Be Remembered

The writer Dudley Clendinen talks about how he’d like to be remembered.