From the brilliant John Auerbach, PhD
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Ben Demott and Gloria LaBarbera
My mother, Gloria LaBarbera who died recently, and the writer and cultural commentator Ben Demott forged an affectionate friendship over many years-. The relationship was largely epistolary as they grew older, though very personal as children walking to Hewitt school from the Nottingham area. I was very proud of the relationship--my mother knew quality, and intellectually, Demott was about the best Rockville Centre has put out, esteemed as a cultural contributor and one of the most respected public intellectuals of his day. Now gone, my mother at age 99 and Demott at age 81, some 18 years ago, since they were contemporaneous, I am able to write about them more intimately than I would have during either of ther lifetimes. I also have inherited many letters from Demott, as well as some other luminaries. In any case, the friendship sparked about 1929, even though Demott did not exude immense charisma during his gradeschool days. While others strove to show athletic prowe...
rereading "Cold Little Bird" by Ben Marcus"
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