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George Effinger, 55, science-fiction author
04/30/02
George Alec Effinger, a science-fiction writer who won top awards in his literary field, died Friday of undetermined causes at his New Orleans home. He was 55.
A Cleveland native who had lived most of the past 30 years in New Orleans, Mr. Effinger wrote hundreds of short stories and more than 20 books, including mysteries and crime novels in addition to science fiction. He also created several computer role-playing games.
He is perhaps best known for "Schrodinger's Kitten," the novelette that won both the Hugo in 1988 and the Nebula in 1989, science fiction's most prestigious awards. His other well-known works were a trilogy of futuristic stories, influenced by Raymond Chandler and based on the recurring character of detective Marid Audran: "When Gravity Fails," "A Fire in the Sun" and "The Exile Kiss," in which the French Quarter is transformed into a futuristic Arabic city called the Budayeen.
Other works include the novel "What Entropy Means to Me" and the award-winning short story "The Aliens Who Knew, I Mean, Everything." But Mr. Effinger's work, filled with fine characterization and dark humor, transcended genre.
Mr. Effinger originally intended to become a surgeon but dropped out of Yale University to live in New York. He returned to Yale, but soon it became clear that writing would be his chosen profession.
His first wife, whom he met while she was browsing in the science-fiction section of the New York bookstore where he worked, introduced him to Damon Knight and Kate Wilhelm, two of the best-known science-fiction writers in the country, who became important mentors to Mr. Effinger.
He said that his writing career really began with a summer writing workshop in Pennsylvania in 1970: "I wrote my first story, sold my first novel, and I never looked back."
Mr. Effinger moved to New Orleans after attending a writing workshop at Tulane University in 1971, and, finding the city an inspiration, he entered his most productive writing period. In addition to writing, he taught a popular creative-writing class at the University of New Orleans Metropolitan College, and many of his students went on to become friends, meeting with Mr. Effinger in a monthly writing group. He was a frequent guest at science-fiction conventions throughout the country and a collector of Depression glass, which played an important part in his novel "Heroics."
His favorite word, he once said, was "terrific." "I have my characters say it under any possible circumstances. It means whatever it means at the moment, from tremendous praise to tremendous put-down."
When Mr. Effinger married his third wife, novelist Barbara Hambly, in 1998, he moved to Los Angeles. "We were co-guests of honor at a science-fiction convention, and it was love at first sight," Hambly said. "We were married in November of 1998."
Mr. Effinger returned to New Orleans in the spring of 2000 after he and Hambly divorced. "He had talent to burn, and he burned it," Hambly said. "One of the most frustrating things about him was seeing what he could have done. We were in touch daily. Since the divorce and since he moved back to New Orleans, we spoke daily. We were best friends."
Mr. Effinger's life was complicated by recurring illness and addictions to painkillers and alcohol, Hambly said. "In the last four years of his life, he went through rehab twice, he was in 12-step programs. The last five months of his life he was completely clean and sober. He was working again, he has two short stories in anthologies coming out in the next couple of months, and he had a good shot at getting his life back together and starting his career again. He put up a hell of a fight."
Mr. Effinger, long appreciated worldwide in science fiction circles, regretted not having a higher profile in his adopted hometown. "I'm to Japan what Jerry Lewis is to France. They love me over there," he once said.
Mr. Effinger is survived by Hambly, who is his literary executor.
A memorial may be planned later.
CRAWFORD, JOSEPH
06/07/02
Joseph Crawford, a retired consultant for Shell Offshore Inc., died Tuesday of undetermined causes at Charity Hospital. He was 69. Mr. Crawford was a lifelong resident of New Orleans. He attended Walter L. Cohen High School, the Young Men's Christian Association School of Commerce, the University of Houston and Delgado Community College. He was a member of the Community Advisory Board of Cafe Reconcile, the board of the Central City Economic Development Foundation, Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, the board of directors of Dryades YMCA and the Neighborhood Development Foundation. He was an Army veteran and received the Medal of Honor. Survivors include his companion, Veronica Johnson; two sons, Joseph Crawford III and Goldie Westley; four daughters, Myrna Freeman, Olga Jackson, Josie W. Ellzey and Autumn Hilton; two stepsons, Ronald and Alfred Westley; two stepdaughters, Gail Francois and Brenda Suggs; 15 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. A funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at St. James Methodist Church of Louisiana, 1925 Ursulines Ave. Visitation will begin at noon. Burial will be private. Majestic Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
CURRY, MARY MILDRED
06/07/02
Mary Mildred Curry, a retired cook with the Orleans Parish public school system, died Sunday at Ferncrest Nursing Home. She was 81. Ms. Curry was born in New Orleans, where she lived most of her life. She was a member of Morning Star Baptist Church, where she had been a deaconess. Survivors include a son, Curtis Elmore Sr.; a sister, Earline Washington; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A funeral will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Morning Star Baptist Church, 3124 Florida Ave. Visitation will begin at 8 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
REMY, PAUL LEVINE
06/07/02
Paul Levine Remy, a retired food broker, died Tuesday of heart failure at Meadowcrest Hospital. He was 72. Mr. Remy was born in New Orleans and lived in Harvey for many years. He was a graduate of Tulane University. He was a Marine Corps veteran. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Fried Remy; two sons, Mark S. and Troy Remy; a daughter, Karlyn Remy Thompson; a brother, John A. Remy; and seven grandchildren. A Mass will be said today at 11 a.m. at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Garden of Memories.
SMITH, CLARENCE
06/07/02
Clarence Smith, a heavy-equipment operator with Ryan Stevedore Inc., died Sunday of cancer at Metropolitan Hospice. He was 72. Mr. Smith was born in Jonesville and lived in New Orleans for many years. He was a member of Local Union No. 2000. Survivors include his wife, Ruby J. Smith; three sons, Albert, James and Johnny Jefferson; five daughters, Betty Graham, Louella Galloway, Joann Perkins, Charlene Smith and Diane Ekenta; many grandchildren and a great-grandchild. A funeral will be held Saturday at noon at D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
SCHEXNAILDRE, LINDA SUSAN
06/07/02
Linda Susan Schexnaildre, a church administrator at Metairie Ridge Presbyterian Church, died Tuesday of respiratory arrest at East Jefferson General Hospital. She was 47. Mrs. Schexnaildre was born in New Orleans and lived in Metairie for many years. She attended Grace King High School. She was a member of Williams Boulevard Baptist Church and its choir for 20 years. Survivors include her husband, Kristin Schexnaildre; three sons, John R. Kissee, Scott C. Siebert and Jeremy D. Schexnaildre; her mother, Winifred Brupbacher; a brother, Roy Hollyfield; three sisters, Barbara Bansen, and Diane and Winnie Hollyfield; and a grandchild. A funeral will be held Saturday at noon at Williams Boulevard Baptist Church, 3000 Willams Blvd., Kenner. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Burial will be in St. Louis Cemetery No. 3. Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
KELLY, VICTORIA R.
06/07/02
Victoria R. Kelly, a retired domestic worker, died Friday of heart failure at East Jefferson General Hospital. She was 78. Mrs. Kelly was born in Luling and lived in Kenner for the past 45 years. She was a former employee of the St. Charles Parish public school system. She was a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church, where she served in the Willing Workers club. Survivors include a son, Leon Kelly Sr. of Kenner; two brothers, Anthony Reed of Florida and James Reed of LaPlace; seven sisters, Roslyn Reed, Dora Lee Brooks and Deborah Turner, all of Kenner, Darlene Reed of Houston, Martha Slay and Ida Mae Williams, both of Raceland, and Mary Gray of LaPlace; 16 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. A funeral will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Pilgrim Baptist Church, 2114 Third St., Kenner. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Belle Grove Cemetery. Richardson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
MULLEN, MILDRED HERMANN
06/07/02
Mildred Hermann Mullen, a homemaker, died Tuesday at East Jefferson General Hospital. She was 93. Mrs. Mullen was born in New Orleans and lived in Metairie for the past four years. Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Monaghan and Rosemary Lagasse; three brothers, Albert "Pete," Bernard and Charles Hermann; two sisters, Helen Gelpi and Evelyn Caruso; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. A funeral will be held today at 1 p.m. at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in Garden of Memories.
McDONALD, DWIGHT THOMAS
06/07/02
Dwight Thomas McDonald, a welder at Kostmayer Construction Co., died Wednesday of cardiac arrest at West Jefferson Medical Center. He was 41. Mr. McDonald was born in New Orleans and lived in Terrytown. Survivors include a son, Dylan McDonald; a daughter, Hollie McDonald; his mother, Beatrice Santini McDonald; four brothers, Cecil "C.J." , Keith Sr., and Daniel McDonald Sr., and Gregory Creppel; and four sisters, Bernadette Horricks, Deborah Bartlett, Debbie McDonald and Donna Dubuisson. A funeral will be held today at 11 a.m. at Mothe Funeral Home, 7040 Lapalco Blvd., Marrero. Visitation will begin at 7 a.m. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Gretna.
PIERSON, RENARD EDDIE JR.
06/07/02
Renard Eddie Pierson Jr., a horticulturist, died Tuesday of a heart attack at Southeast Alabama Medical Center. He was 45. Mr. Pierson was a lifelong resident of New Orleans. He graduated from John McDonogh High School and attended Delgado Community College. Survivors include his wife, Cynthia Benjamin Shirley Pierson; a stepson, Isaac W. Shirley; two stepdaughters, Shannon S. Shirley and Chemmika G. Benjamin; his mother, Elouise W. Baptiste; his stepfather, Lawrence Baptiste Sr.; a brother, David J. Baptiste Sr.; two sisters, Renee F. Pierson and Kim P. Ford; and a grandchild. A funeral will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at St. James Methodist Church of Louisiana, 1925 Ursulines Ave. Visitation will begin at 8 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Mausoleum. Tilly's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
