In memoriam

A couple of leading lights in the mystery community have passed away recently, and I’d like to devote a little bit of space to each of them now.

Jon Teta, one of the original owners of my former haunt, Partners & Crime, died last week after a long, arduous illness. Although I didn’t know him very well–he was only an occasional presence in the store when I began working there almost three years ago–he was a kind, considerate man with a wicked sense of humor and an encyclopedic knowledge of the mystery genre. Though his death was not a surprise, it’s still keenly felt by those who loved and admired him. I miss him already.

Bill Deeck was a staple in so many ways–active with Malice Domestic and previous Bouchercons, a regular poster on several lists (including rec.arts.mystery) and so, so knowledgeable about the genre. I hadn’t realized he’d been ill, so hearing of his death at his home in College Park, MD, on July 2 came as a real shock to me. He was 68.