A Classic Obituary

An obituary in the New York Times today notes the passing of New York pornographer Al Goldstein at the age of 77.  I mention this not because I was a fan or supporter of Mr. Goldstein - far from it.  In fact, you will note that I am not using my standard "Absent Friends" notation in referencing this death.  It would be appalling and wrong on a thousand levels to include the likes of Goldstein with people such as Stan Musial, Annette Funicello, James Gandolfini, David Frost, and Nelson Mandela, to name only a few names form 2013, that I just will not do it.  Call me judgemental,  but so be it.

Rather, I note it because the obit in the Times is just so well written by reporter Andy Newman that it begs to be read.  It starts with the headline, "Al Goldstein, Who Made Porn Dirtier, Dies at 77" and just gets better from there.  

It also includes these great quotes from noted civil liberties lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who at times defended Goldstein in court:

“He clearly coarsened American sensibilities,” Alan M. Dershowitz, the civil liberties advocate and Mr. Goldstein’s sometime lawyer, said in 2004.

“Hefner did it with taste,” Mr. Dershowitz added, referring to Hugh Hefner, the founder and publisher of Playboy, which predated Screw by 15 years. “Goldstein’s contribution is to be utterly tasteless.”

Is that not great stuff?  Here is a link to the entire obit.  As I said, it is masterful writing, but it does describe Goldstein's dubious "career", so if you're squeamish about such stuff, I get it if you want to take a pass.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/20/nyregion/al-goldstein-pioneering-pornographer-dies-at-77.html?ref=obituaries&_r=0

I will close with another quote about Goldstein that I saw someone make on Facebook today:

He is one of those rare people of whom it may be said without hesitation or doubt that the world would have been better had he never lived.

What an epitaph!