William Link, co-creator (with Richard Levinson) of classic TV series as Columbo (which began as a telefilm called Prescription Murder),  Murder She Wrote , and Mannix among others, died Sunday, December 27th. He was 87. He wrote one of the first TV shows featuring an African American lead), Ellery Queen (1975), and Blacke’s Magic (1986).

Crimespree’s Ruth Jordan waxes nostalgic and shares what meeting Mr Link, or Bill, was like.

Bill Link has died. He was a mentor and a friend to Crimespree.

To be able to type this sentence and mean it sincerely? I must have been doing something right.

Bill was pretty much a mentor to anyone and everyone he met. From Angela Lansbury to Stephen Spielberg to you know, little old Jon and Ruth.

Bill created some of the best T.V. and some of the best T.V. characters. Are you feeling me yet? Never mind. Let me just take you to where Jon and I were….

The year was 2006. It was the best of times. And on an early summer morning Judy, Jon and myself headed out from her home towards Owensboro. I could tell you stories about the drive and how the GPS didn’t work yet but instead… I’ll tell you all Owensboro is beautiful and that weekend? It’s what you live for.

It was Robert Levinson who took us under his wing from the onset. Stuart Kaminsky and Pearl shared more than a laugh and all of the cat stories. Sue Grafton was there. I drank with Harry Anderson that weekend.  This memory? It’s a memory full of heroes and possibility.  Because? Bill? It’s what you do. I cannot handle past tense yet and really? I don’t need to.

You, my friend? I am never going to forget San Francisco. It’s now 2010 and God Bless you. You came to your second Bouchercon because you did not want to let us down. Margery? You made it happen. I will never forget seeing the both of you from across the lobby. It was a life-lite.

The absolute love you brought to us that day when you knew we were grieving. You guys will forever and always be heroes. I am so grateful to be able to call you friends.

This earth I live on? It’s so much smaller without you Bill. 

Thank you for making it magical!