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"Ms. Angell committed suicide, her father, the author Roger Angell, said."

I don't know if I've ever seen an obituary that presented suicide so directly.

I'd never heard of Callie Angell, but I am intrigued by the idea of devoting one's mind to the study of the films of Andy Warhol and the nature of a mind that ultimately arrives at the decision to commit suicide.

I have read many articles by Roger Angell ? the pieces on baseball that appeared in The New Yorker were quite wonderful. I'm sorry for him now.

From the daughter's obituary, I see that Roger Angell's stepfather was E. B. White, and that the dead woman was, in her time, close to White. Perhaps he read "Charlotte's Web" to her. From the obit:

"She untangled this web of films and revealed how they were a vital part in Andy Warhol?s life as an artist..."

This web... Who can untangle the reasons for suicide?

There is nothing in the article about a terrible physical illness. There is no reference to chronic depression. I assume Roger Angell, the brilliant writer, chose to present the news so starkly. But why? Why wouldn't you soften the news of your daughter's death?

Baseball, Warhol, children's books... there are always things to be seen and loved.

Full post as published by Althouse on May 11, 2010 (boomark / email).