Of the topics worthy of comment that I will be trying to catch up to during the month of February, the death of John Updike, America's most accomplished Christian man of letters, is at the top.  The magazine America published a glowing obit that I am sharing here.

As a sports fan, my favorite literary encounter with Updike (aside from his writing in the acceptance speech of the Campion award quoted in the America link above), is the justly praised reportage on Ted Williams' final day at Fenway Park.  "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu"is a classic of American sportswriting, and single-handedly justified two generations of The New Yorker subscribers (New Yorker subscriptions back in the day were pricey $50 per year if I remember correctly).  Roger Angell, the other great American "amateur" baseball writer to grace the pages of The New Yorker, submitted this piece on the genesis of Updike's piece here.

I think that Mr. Updike was so gracious in his writing and life (especially in his humble and sincere deflection of bitterness in not being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, despite being rumored to being the #1 American candidate for the award every year for the past 30 years), that his example will remain unmatched for decades to come.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Updike.  May we all pray for the peaceful repose of your soul.