Bert-Sugar-Obituary

Bert Sugar

Age 75

About

AGE
75

Obituaries

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. (AP) — Bert Sugar, an iconic boxing writer and sports historian who was known for his trademark fedora and ever-present cigar, died Sunday of cardiac arrest. He was 75.

Jennifer Frawley, Sugar's daughter, said his wife, Suzanne, was by his side when he died at Northern Westchester Hospital. Sugar also had been battling lung cancer.

"Just his intelligence and his wit and his sense of humor," Frawley said when asked what she will remember about her father. "He was always worried about people. He was always helping people."

Sugar was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005. According to the hall's website, Sugar wrote more than 80 books, including "The 100 Greatest Boxers Of All Time." He also appeared in a handful of films, including "The Great White Hype" starring Samuel Jackson.

"Around ringside, it's not going to be the same with Bert not there," said Jack Hirsch, the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Sugar was born in Washington, D.C., in 1937. He graduated from Maryland and went to law school at Michigan. He passed the bar in his hometown and worked in advertising in New York City before he got into writing in the 1970s.

"Bert was obviously a showman in the way he did things outwardly, very flamboyant, but in quiet moments I found him to be an extremely modest individual," Hirsch said.

Frawley said arrangements for a memorial service are still pending and anyone wishing to honor Sugar should make a donation to the boxing hall.

"He was really a brilliant man," she said.


Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us.

From our first meeting at the Ali-Burbick fight, to our last long phone conversation together and everything in between, I will always be grateful I knew you.

God Bless You and Keep You.

Love you Dad....

a real library of knowledge Rip bert

I knew nothing of boxing until I heard Burt speak

By pure chance, I got to spend about 2 hours in the MGM cigar bar with Bert. We talked about boxing and, after he found out I was also a lawyer, we talked law. He was clearly one of the most interesting men I've ever met. I was saddened to hear of his passing and send my best wishes to his family.

I meet him on Ellis island when he recieved the Ellis island award had my picture taken with him very nice man

It was an absolute honor to know you.I will never forget your wit. It will not be the same place,without being able to speak with you. Thank you my friend, for participating in the "Armed Forces Boxing Championships" for me. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. You will never be forgotten!