He wrote to me in February, telling me know about his illness. Always the professional, he wanted to let me know about his column. Marv wrote,
"I don't know when (and if) I'll do another IN SHORT column for MRJ, which is a shame because I so enjoy doing them. Who knows? Miracles happen.
It has been a joy knowing and working with you for forty years, and I wish you all the best in the future."
Marv Lachman, it's been a joy knowing and working with you, too. You will be missed.
MARVIN LACHMAN
1932-2023
Marvin Lachman died on October 21 of complications related to cancer. He grew up in the Bronx, New York, the son of Louis and Helen (Rickner) Lachman. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School and the City College of New York. Then he suffered through his two years of service as a draftee in the U.S. Army. But because he was stationed in New York for part of his time in the service and had access to the USO, he became a fan and scholar of theatre. Following his honorable discharge he moved to Los Angeles where, in 1956 he was introduced to the future love of his life, Carol Ganelin. Six weeks later, on January 12, 1957 they were married, and stayed that way until his death. On March 15, 1958, their son Steven was born in the Bronx. Marvin was a loving and patient father.
He was passionate about a number of things – theatre, tennis, birding, show music, classical music, English language, but especially mysteries of which he became one of the world's preeminent scholars, writing extensively about the field in books and magazines. He was recognized by the Mystery Writers of America with “Edgar” and “Raven” awards, as well as many other awards.
As to tennis, he started playing at 17 and played his last set at 87, at which time he said “I think playing for 70 years is enough.
Marvin and Carol moved from the Bronx to Suffern NY in 1979 and then to Santa Fe in 1988 where they lived for more than 35 years.
Marv and Carol took great pride in starting the Friends of the Library Bookstore at the Southside Branch of the Santa Fe Public Library.
Besides wife Carol and son Steven, Marvin is survived by grandson Matthew Lachman (of Washington D.C.), granddaughter Shannon Dennis (of Menlo Park, CA) and great granddaughters Anna and Zoe. Marvin loved and was proud of all of them.
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5 comments:
That's sad to hear, Janet. We met Marv at the Santa Fe Left Coast Crime convention in 2011, where he was the Fan Guest of Honor. He was notoriously difficult to get a picture of for the Program Book. Marv was also selling his books in the bookroom. For the 25th LCC convention in Portland, Marv gave permission to reprint the chapter on LCC from his "Heirs of Anthony Boucher" history of mystery fandom -- a book, now in a revised edition, I always recommend to convention "addicts." Lucinda and I bumbed in to Marv and Carol frequently when we were involved in the Santa Fe Friends of the Library. Marv was always concerned that mystery titles be properly priced in the online bookstore we ran for a few years for the Friends. Our last contact was in March, I think, when I was trying to track down his brief obituary of Brian Barrett (one of the LCC founders) and he apologized for his delay in responding, due to his health. We will certainly miss him.
Feeling very sad wishing his families the best Terry Lubar
Oh, this is sad. I always enjoyed my interactions with Marv and Carol, who I've know since, gosh, I think the early '70s.
In another blow, Ginny Brittain — the widow of legendary short-story writer and YA novelist William Brittain — passed on this morning.
This is a sad day.
I was so sorry to hear about Marv Lachman. I was on a panel with him, and have a copy of Heirs of Anthony Boucher. He was so knowledgeable, and he'll be missed.
Marv was such a great guy, and it was a privilege to have known him.
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