Tom Wolfe

Birth Name:
Thomas Kennerly Wolfe Jr.
Birth Date:
March 2, 1930
Birth Place:
Richmond, Virginia
Death Date:
May 14, 2018
Place of Death:
New York City, New York
Age:
88
Cause of Death:
Infection
Cemetery Name:
Hollywood Cemetery
Claim to Fame:
Writers and Poets
Tom Wolfe was an innovative journalist and novelist whose technicolor, wildly punctuated prose brought to life the worlds of California surfers, car customizers, astronauts and Manhattan’s moneyed status-seekers in works like "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" (a highly experimental account of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters) “The Right Stuff” and “Bonfire of the Vanities.” But as an unabashed contrarian, he was almost as well known for his attire as his satire. He was instantly recognizable as he strolled down Madison Avenue — a tall, slender, blue-eyed, still boyish-looking man in his spotless three-piece vanilla bespoke suit, pinstriped silk shirt with a starched white high collar, bright handkerchief peeking from his breast pocket, watch on a fob, faux spats and white shoes. Once asked to describe his get-up, Mr. Wolfe replied brightly, “Neo-pretentious.”

Fun Fact:

Wolfe adopted wearing a white suit as a trademark in 1962. He bought his first white suit, planning to wear it in the summer, in the style of Southern gentlemen. He found that the suit he’d bought was too heavy for summer use, so he wore it in winter, which created a sensation. At the time, white suits were supposed to be reserved for summer wear. Wolfe maintained this as a trademark. He sometimes accompanied it with a white tie, white homburg hat, and two-tone spectator shoes. Wolfe said that the outfit disarmed the people he observed, making him, in their eyes, “a man from Mars, the man who didn’t know anything and was eager to know.”

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Hollywood Cemetery

412 South Cherry Street

Richmond, Virginia, 23220

United States

North America

Map:

Map of Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond VA

Grave Location:

Section 31, Plot 261

Grave Location Description

As you enter the cemetery take an immediate left onto Eastvale Avenue. Drive to the first intersection and turn right onto Freeman Avenue. Drive up the hill to the third intersection and turn left onto Clark Springs Circle driving 200 feet and then park. Walk approximately 12 graves into Section 31 on your left and look for the “W” atop the square monument to signal the final resting place of Tom Wolfe.

Grave Location GPS

37.53712974, -77.45649206

Visiting The Grave:

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FAQ's

Tom Wolfe was born on March 2, 1930.

Tom Wolfe was born in Richmond, Virginia .

Tom Wolfe died on May 14, 2018.

Tom Wolfe died in New York City, New York.

Tom Wolfe was 88.

The cause of death was Infection.

Tom Wolfe's grave is in Hollywood Cemetery

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Oscar Wilde

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date_of_death: November 30, 1900

age: 46

cause_of_death: Meningitis following an acute ear infection

claim_to_fame: Writers and Poets

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popular name: O. Henry

date_of_death: June 5, 1910

age: 47

cause_of_death: Cirrhosis of the liver with complications of diabetes and an enlarged heart

claim_to_fame: Writers and Poets

best_know_for: William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American short story writer. Porter was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. He moved to Texas in 1882, where he met his wife, Athol Estes, with whom he had two children. In 1902, after the death of his wife, Porter moved to New York, where he soon remarried. Will Porter's most prolific writing period started in New York City where he wrote 381 short stories including "The Gift of the Magi", "The Duplicity of Hargraves", and "The Ransom of Red Chief". His stories are known for their surprise endings and witty narration. He wrote a story a week for over a year for the New York World Sunday Magazine. His wit, characterization, and plot twists were adored by his readers but often panned by critics. Porter was a heavy drinker, and by 1908, his markedly deteriorating health affected his writing. In 1909, Sarah left him, and he died on June 5, 1910, of cirrhosis of the liver, complications of diabetes, and an enlarged heart. Porter's legacy includes the O. Henry Award, an annual prize awarded to outstanding short stories.

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popular name: Jean-Paul Sartre

date_of_death: April 15, 1980

age: 74

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claim_to_fame: Writers and Poets

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