Robert B. Parker (1932-2010)

Springfield, Massachusetts native Robert B. Parker,77, died suddenly yesterday of an apparent heart attack, while sitting at his writing desk inside his Cambridge home. Tests are pending to determine the official cause of death. Parker was best known for his Spenser novels which accounted for 37 of the 65 books he had published during his career. His writing idols included Raymond Chandler, whose tough hard boiled style Parker emulated. For three seasons Spenser: For Hire (1985-1988) was a popular television show, starring Robert Urich and Avery Brooks, which I watched regularly as a kid.

I had an English teacher once (can't remember which grade I was in) who knew and was a classmate of Mr. Parker. She mentioned his work many times during class.

Here are the links to both the Boston Globe and Boston Herald stories, reporting on his death:

Boston Globe

Boston Herald