LOS ANGELES, Aug. 26, 2008
"100 Things" Author Dies In Freak Accident
Travel Guru Dave Freemen Dies After Hitting His Head In A Fall At His Home; He Was 47
-
In this family photo released by Cyndi Yee, Dave Freeman, co-author of "100 Things to Do Before You Die," poses for a photo in Joshua Tree National Park in Joshua Tree, Calif. Freeman died Aug. 17, 2008, after hitting his head in a fall at his home in the Venice area of Los Angeles. He was 47. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Cyndi Yee)
-
Sunday Morning Summer Reads Picks from The New York Times daily book critic & Sunday Morning contributor Janet Maslin
- Stories
- Things To Do Before You Die
Freeman died Aug. 17 after the fall at his Venice home, his father, Roy Freeman, told the Los Angeles Times on Monday.
An advertising agency executive, Freeman co-wrote the 1999 book subtitled "Travel Events You Just Can't Miss" with Neil Teplica. It was based on the Web site whatsgoingon.com, which the pair ran together from 1996 to 2001.
"This life is a short journey," the book says. "How can you make sure you fill it with the most fun and that you visit all the coolest places on earth before you pack those bags for the very last time?"
Freeman's relatives said he visited about half the places on his list before he died, and either he or Teplica had been to nearly all of them.
"He didn't have enough days, but he lived them like he should have," Teplica said.
The book's recommendations ranged from the obvious - attending the Academy Awards and running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain - to the more obscure - taking a voodoo pilgrimage in Haiti and "land diving" on the Island of Vanuatu, which Freeman once called "the original bungee jumping."
It included goofy graphics with each entry, indicating that some activities were "down and dirty," and others "grandma friendly."
The success of "100 Things" inspired dozens of like-minded books, with titles such as "100 Things Project Managers Should Do Before They Die" and "100 Things Cowboys Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die."
Freeman graduated from the University of Southern California in 1983, briefly working for an ad agency in Newport Beach before moving to New York to work for Grey Advertising.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Freeman watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center from his apartment just blocks away. He moved back to Southern California to be closer to his family.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From U.S.
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
It''''s too bad some of idiots who post on these posting boards 24/7/365 can''''t fall down, hit their heads and die.
Posted by shanev137 at 07:36 PM
So he was working on his next book,
"100 Things Not To Do Around The House"
Oh hell, I''ve fallen!
I need help pleeze call 991!
my address is . . . . .
The Forbidden City in Beijing is incredible and a must see, but you sit on the throne, they kick you @ss...HARD and OFTEN!!!! The Chinese Marines there are harder than woodpecker lips.
Despite the best of planning or intentions, the end happens when it is supposed to happen, for many sooner than others, often in the least expected way; and, frequently by total surprise...
Posted by wawhite74
It would help if you read the article. It states he visited about half. Must be nice? Jealous? How about must have been nice. Emphasis on must.
- by dgal878 August 26, 2008 4:11 PM EDT
- I wish we were all willing and able to live life the way that he did.
- Reply to this comment
See all 16 Comments