R.I.P. legendary author Charles Bowden – updated

Just heard this morning that Tucson author/former journalist  Charles “Chuck” Bowden passed away yesterday at age 69. The Tucson Weekly’s The Range  has the scoop, click here.  Bowden died in Las Cruces, New Mexico, due to failing health. He was the author of many books, several about border issues with Mexico including drug wars. I met him years ago when he was living here in Tucson, and I also knew his former partner, mother of his half Japanese American son. More about Bowden’s works in wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bowden

Charles Bowden (1945-2014) was an American non-fiction author, journalist, and essayist based in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He is a former writer for the Tucson Citizen and often writes about the American Southwest. He is a contributing editor of GQ and Mother Jones magazine, and writes for other periodicals including Harper’s MagazineNew York Times Book ReviewEsquire, and Aperture.

Check back later as I will update with memorial service arrangements.

UPDATED :  Sept. 28 memorial services in Las Cruces, NM, and  Nov. 1, 2 to 5 p.m. at Rock Corral Ranch in Tumacacori, south of Tucson.  My update post: https://blogforarizona.net/memorial-services-set-for-author-charles-bowden/

R.I.P. Chuck, you will be missed by many here in Tucson.

"The Charles Bowden Reader" published in 2010.
“The Charles Bowden Reader” published in 2010.

7 thoughts on “R.I.P. legendary author Charles Bowden – updated”

  1. Just heard that the Star will publish an obituary tomorrow on Bowden’s memorial services: Sept. 28 in Las Cruces, NM; and on Nov. 1, 2 to 5 p.m. at Rock Corral Ranch in Tumacacori in AZ. Will post more tomorrow once I find out the details.

    • No word yet, but I’ve emailed the reporters at Tucsonsentinel.com and Tucson Weekly to see if they have heard anything. Stay tuned.

  2. I raise my glass to you Chuck, red wine, of course. Almost knowing you for 2 plus decades. I, working at the The BookMark, in Tucson “the only real bookstore” you would always say, and you starting City Magazine and with Redline. I,’ll always remember how I stumbled over the words of asking you out for a drink, before I could get the words out, you said “yes”‘. Our friendship was internal. All the signings at the BookMark, yes I agreed with you, that you were my slave, but I really think you enjoyed them through all your grumbling. Those were the days. Thank you for taking me along for the ride, for sharing your love of the hummingbirds, the trees, the critters and not to forget the ants. You were exciting! I love you Chuck, and I’ll miss you terribly. Love, Gloria

    • Thanks Gloria for your kind words about Chuck. I went to one of his readings at an independent bookstore
      Reader’s Oasis in Tucson, and also met him again at a town hall, where we spent a lot of time talking. He was quite an intelligent, animated person, so full of knowledge. I heard that the Tucson Weekly will be writing up a tribute to him next week.

      • Thank you, Carolyn for keeping us informed and your kind words, also for sharing your memories.

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