Wendy Wasserstein, 1950-2006

Posted on January 31, 2006 by Ampersand

This sucks.

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8 Responses to Wendy Wasserstein, 1950-2006

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  2. 2
    reddecca says:
    January 31, 2006 at 3:44 am

    Oh that’s awful. I’d never heard of her, but the Heidi Chronicles (which I remember nothing about) was an important part in me calling myself a feminist (The story’s not quite as smurfy as it sounds.

  3. 3
    littlem says:
    January 31, 2006 at 9:54 pm

    So so so so sad. Mrs. King, Ms. Wasserstein, and *shudder* Alito all on the same d*mn day.

    I told my mom the other day that when I was a shiny-eyed idealistic college girl I never DREAMED I’d live in a world like this.

    I’m hoping what sticks with me about this personally is that some issues cannot wait, because you NEVER know what will happen tomorrow.

    So I’ve written a scorching op-ed raging against some sexist cr*p that I saw in the February issue of Essence and am sending it to the editors I know there. It started out a short letter to the editor and as I re-read the piece that “inspired” it to make sure I didn’t miss anything that begged for rebuttal, it somehow mushroomed to a 750-word essay.

    And I want to thank you, Amp, and please offer my thanks to all the other bloggers you list in your index, for providing a cyberspace-place to be comforted (in these dark times) by what feels like an ideological family — mostly to learn, but even in times when we come to mourn.

    Sorry if I sound soppy. I’m going to go lay down and cry now. I’ll be back tomorrow.

  4. 4
    Deborah says:
    February 1, 2006 at 9:26 am

    I am taking this very personally. I wrote about it here.

    Now I recall that I thought I was pregnant when I saw the Heidi Chronicles in 1988 (I’m guessing, because a year later I really was pregnant), and my mom thought that was why I was crying. But I was crying for feminism, and knowing that someone really got it.

  5. 5
    Anita says:
    February 1, 2006 at 12:51 pm

    Truly. The death of Wendy Wasserstein has been very upsetting to me to me as well. She was, as far as I am concerned, so young: at 55, imagine the creative power she had within her yet to be released. Her voice was powerful. What she wrote about touched me so deeply … The Sisters Rosenzweig … The Heidi Chronicles … so, so many wonderful works.

    I remember when she had her little girl. She fought against all odds to have a child. She was confined to bed, I believe, for her last trimester (and possibly even longer, I am not sure) and, as well, the baby was born pre-mature and it wasn’t entirely clear whether she would survive. But she did. It was quite miraculous. And from the photos I have seen she is a really adorable child.

    Rest in peace Wendy Wasserstein. You TRULY will be missed.

  6. 6
    Diane says:
    February 1, 2006 at 9:39 pm

    I can’t stop feeling sad about this. I admired her so much, and she made me laugh so much. What a terrible loss.

  7. 7
    Christa Moran says:
    February 7, 2006 at 4:14 am

    Wendy Wasserstein will be missed very much. A genuine writer. I hope you rest in peace.Deepest sympathy to daughter and family.

  8. 8
    MARSHA says:
    February 10, 2006 at 2:23 am

    The four friends of Wendy’s who appeared on the Charlie Rose Show recently truly brought home the wit, charm, joy and sadness this one incredible woman giftedly expressed. She will be missed tremendously by those who loved her and those who’ve never met her but in print and via videos. My heart goes out to Lucy Jane and family.
    Sincerely,
    Marsha