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Hamline University

RICHARD ENGQUIST Obituary

ENGQUIST--Richard, 76, award-winning lyricist of Brooklyn, NY. Loved and admired husband, father, grandfather, uncle and teacher. Hamline University magna cum laude graduate and BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop leader. Survived by wife Jane Brody (NY Times columnist), sons Erik and Lorin Engquist and sister Muriel Cashin. Donations to Prospect Park Alliance (95 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215) or Maverick Concerts (P.O. Box 9, Woodstock, NY 12498).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New York Times on Mar. 21, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for RICHARD ENGQUIST

4 Entries

Carey Gold

March 27, 2010

Dear Jane,

I have known Richard since we were both first-year students in Lehman's BMI workshop. Richard's gimble-eyed sardonic humor was instantly apparent, as was his unique perspective on life's copious ironies. I used to hound him about his smoking, to which he gleefully replied, "Oh, Carey, I'm far too old to stop now." He was 43, and he consumed each cigarette the way an epicurean imbibes a favored Cabernet or a bite of a particularly succulent oyster.

I loved the way he grabbed hold of words and twisted them into submission, creating meaning with flavors and shadings that were both secret and universal, sour, salty and sweet.

I wish I could share some of the pre-iPhone movies I have stored in my visual cortex of Richard's wry smile as he gloated over the success of a once-struggling young writer. "Oh, so you've decided to join the human race?" he would ask the previously obstreporous writer who finally succumbed to Richard's canny ministrations.

I always wanted more of Richard--more of his lyrics, of course, but more of his meat and bone, the stuff that was always on the brink of flying out of his irreverent brain, like a pressure cooker about to pop. There were times when I could think of nothing better than to bear witness to one of those unselfconscious, instantly-manufactured gems of perception and utter weirdness that only Richard's own peculiar chemistry could have created.

He is one of the permanent inhabitants of my brain's population of favorite characters, and his passing does little to change that. It is painful to conjure even a moment when Richard was denied an opportunity for one of his patented self-lacerating observations. I will continue to be his grateful audience and a willing co-conspirator on whatever metaphysical plane presents itself.

I love you Richard.

Carey

Catherine Yamoor

March 22, 2010

Dear Jane and family,
Muriel phoned me with the sad news of Richard's passing. Richard and your family are intertwined in my love for our Scandia heritage. Cathy Yamoor

Kristine Erickson

March 21, 2010

This world is diminished without you, Uncle Richard. I will miss my occasional visits with you.
Love,
Kristine

March 21, 2010

I have fond memories of the Enquist summer sojourns to Scandia. Short, but interesting, visits filled with violin music, lots of laughs and great conversations on whatever the topic du jour was. Richard broadened my horizons. He will be missed...

ernie Kertzscher...

Showing 1 - 4 of 4 results

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