Alas, last night’s Oscar party has yielded a tragic aftermath. For several years the author John Grant (Paul Barnett) and his wife Pamela have traveled all the way down from Hewitt (near Greenwood Lakes, NJ) to attend our annual party despite it being over an hour’s drive one way. He and Pam became very dear friends to Lucille and I and when they didn’t show up last night despite e mail assurances they were excited to attend again Lucille and I were deeply concerned. I sent on an email and it was answered by Pam who informed me she had sent me a correspondence from another address that he suffered a fatal heart attack last week. As per his wishes he was cremated. Since 2013 when we first met in a Montclair bookstore we hit it off in every sense and he was for the past seven years the most regular and and passionate commenter at WONDERS IN THE DARK, using the title “realthog.” He was a great writer and film noir expert. To say he will be missed understates our bond. I can’t imagine the world without Paul whose pen name was John Grant. A prince of a guy with a fabulous sardonic wit he was born in Scotland and is one of the most prolific writers and voracious readers of all-time. Paul was 70 years old. We were so privileged to know you. Your legacy is deeply pronounced, but your friendship was special beyond words. (first photo of John in Montclair in 2013; second at last year’s Oscar party with Adam Ferenz in the background) I was first introduced to Paul via my good Australian friend Tony d’Ambra who was a treasured film noir compatriot in an online connection that developed into actual meetings.
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