Tom and Michelle
On Friday, after a long battle with cancer, Tom Piccirilli passed away. He was fifty years old.
Tom’s writing career spanned three decades and started in 1990 with the publication of DARK FATHER. Since then, he published over 150 stories and over two dozen novels. In addition rave reviews, Tom was a two-time winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for “Best Paperback Original” (2008, 2010) and a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award.
But as popular as his writing was, Tom was known and loved within the Horror and Crime fiction communities for his generousity of his time and talent. He had a passion for the genres that went well beyond his writing.
A number of his peers have gone public with their thoughts:
Bill Crider: R. I. P., Tom. My condolence to the family and many friends.
Kent Gowran: R.I.P. Tom Piccirilli. A good, kind man. Awesomely talented. The world has lost a giant.
Beth Groundwater: So sorry to hear about Tom’s passing. He fought the good fight and was a great talent who will be sorely missed. My deepest sympathies and prayers for comfort for Michelle and the rest of the family.
Noel Hynd: Deeply deeply saddened. A wonderful guy has left us. Life is never fair but seems particularly unfair right now….
Brian Keene: I always called Tom Piccirilli “big bro” and he always called me “little bro” because that’s what we were. I am heartbroken and beyond any meaningful words right now. Rest in Peace, big bro.
Terrill Lee Lankford: The writing world lost a big one today. R.I.P. Tom Piccirilli.
Alex Segura: Sad to hear about Tom Piccirilli’s passing. Great writer and a kind, good man. RIP.
Duane Swierczynski: Gutted to hear that we lost Tom Piccirilli. I was lucky enough to spend a very pleasant afternoon with him five years ago when he and Michelle hosted my family for a much-appreciated home-cooked meal during a long cross-country sojourn. We had been trading emails (and books!) for quite a few years before that, and I always looked up to him as a big brother in the publishing trenches. His kindness was legendary, as were his novels, which were superb no matter the genre. If you haven’t had the pleasure, track down one of Tom’s books immediately. (I’ll always have a special fondness for THE COLD SPOT and FUCKIN’ LIE DOWN ALREADY.)
Rest in peace, my friend. You will be sorely missed.
On behalf of Crimespree magazine, I express my condolances to Michelle, Tom’s wife. Not only did she give Tom all of her support and strength, she also kept us all updated throughout Tom’s battle. I can’t imagine what she is feeling right now, but I think it is safe to say that there are hundreds of people that are more than ready to step up, should she need anything.
