David Halberstam

The words of David Halberstam, from N Magazine:

“The island has always been a great sanctuary for me. I’ve always felt protected here…. There is a real feeling of exhilaration and a sense of cleansing, to be able to work and then go out and fish with friends. What’s amazing is that I can write all summer, get a lot of work done and still feel as if I’ve been on vacation.

Every day I’m aware of the great sense of renewal that Nantucket has given me. Without it, I don’t think I would have had as rich a life, professionally or personally.”

The service for David Halberstam will take place on June 12 at the Riverside Church in Manhattan. No word on whether there will be a Nantucket service.

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Palgrave Macmillan will publish “Creativity” this November. The book sets out to identify how creative methods work, written by creative people in a number of fields. David Halberstam is one of the contributors, along with Edward Albee, Chuck Close, Milton Glaser, Marvin Hamlish, Erica Jong, Spike Lee, Julie Taymor, and others. David chose the photograph taken by Fred Clow for the cover of N Magazine to accompany his article. That same photo by Fred was published in the recent issue of Time magazine.

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More words on the passing of David Halberstam from Prenny Claflin.

“David Halberstam, walking Nantucket’s twilight streets, arm and arm with his beloved Jean, would always stop and take the time to talk. He was so much a part of our island. And in his greeting, you became the center of his world: your world became an adjunct to the world of war and politics, of sports icons and moments in atheletic endeavors that touched millions, of the world of giants of which he was one, and when you finally bid adieu, David had changed you. That moment was always beyond special.

“My lasting image of David will always be him boarding his Alden ocean-going scull, his single rowing shell, and on a calm and waning summer afternoon, I watched him as he heads out of Polpis Harbor, peacefully alone and at peace with the world as the water moves slowly behind his oars, and in those perfect puddles he leaves the complexities and agonies of the world behind, if but for a moment.

“We will sorely miss you David.”

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From Lynne DeWald:
I was David and Jean Halberstam’s housekeeper for one
year on Nantucket. They were two of the
most gracious, unassuming and generous individuals
I’ve ever met. David would discuss books with me during his
morning coffee while I cleaned the kitchen
from Jean’s most excellent culinary adventures the
night before. Jean loved to talk food. They both loved
to talk about their daughter. They talked about their
friends more then themselves. They were not “I”
people. They offered me the use of their NY apartment
while they were out of country and David offered to
write a college reference letter for my daughter. Yes,
he was a great journalist and historian, but he was a
real person. His Koi pond was a thing of beauty he
enjoyed and I came to love it as well. David was an
astute observer of this world, but he was also a
wonderful human being who will be missed. I am shocked
and saddened by his sudden and violent departure from
us. Even at my most casual acquaintance with him, I’m
sad. Imagine how those who knew him well must feel.
Jean and Julie, I’m so sorry.

If you have any stories about David, please send for possible publication.