Andrew Patner 1959-2015
Snow dusted the Daley Plaza's Picasso February 3, 2015 as a deep chill fell on Chicago. Andrew Patner, writer, critic, broadcaster, producer, author, and true Renaissance man, beginning with the arts and extending to virtually any area worth discussing, died unexpectedly at age 55. A devastating loss.
Andrew Patner Photo: Israel Wright Many classical music fans, especially in Chicago, knew Andrew Patner's work, via his writing and his radio show on WFMT, among his countless other cultural and critical endeavors. All I can say is that, upon hearing the news that Andrew died unexpectedly today, I'm in shock. Besides becoming a friend, Andrew was as kind and gentle an editor as I've had for the handful of things I did for the Sun Times. This is just unbelievable to me. Reading his obit, even if you already knew much of what he did, it's hard not to be bowled over by his accomplishments -- a book published while still in his 20s, etc. etc. etc. and etc. Andrew Patner's biography at the Hyde Park History website: http://www.hydeparkhistory.org/patner.html The first obituary (there will certainly be additional appreciations): http://www.robertfeder.com/2015/02/03/andrew-patner-1959-2015/ Andrew's blog: http://viewfromhere.typepad.com/