Frank deford book about daughter

Whether he was writing a novel or a longform sports feature or the story of the sickness and death of his daughter, frank deford was simply outstanding. Frank defords daughter, scarlet was playing for the opposition. Deford s archives are held by the university of texas, where an annual lecture is presented in his name. Over time, a memoir by frank deford the new york times. Frank deford wrote this book shortly after his daughter, alex, died in 1980 from cystic fibrosis at the age of eight. The cystic fibrosis foundation today mourns the passing of legendary sports journalist frank deford, whose young daughter alex lost her fight to cf in 1980, and who served as chair of the cystic fibrosis foundations board of trustees from 19821999. The book was made into a 1986 tvmovie adaptation of which starred craig t. A passage in the book describes a boorish, selfinvolved, complaining woman who brought her daughter to the hospital for a foolish little dogbite,as deford described it, out of which she was. The entitled is a baseball masterpiece, like the natural and field of dreams. Probably his most evocative book has nothing to do with sportsits about his daughter, alexandra, who died from cystic fibrosis when she was. The foundation remembers legendary sports journalist frank deford. I had been putting it off because it is a very sad topic but i gathered up the fortitude to read the book. Feb 28, 2018 it is frank defords timeless book about his daughters short battle with cf. Deford grew up in baltimore, maryland, the oldest of three.

Sep 22, 2011 writer and commentator frank deford is the author of sixteen books. Deford kept a journal of alexs courageous stand against the disease, documenting his familys struggle to. Defords discussion of how they came to adopt their daughter, scarlett. The life of a child was written in memory of his daughter who died from cystic fibrosis in 1980. Remembering frank deford, the legendary sports illustrated writer who graced the magazines masthead for more than half a century. His daughter alexandra, who was just 8 when she died of cystic fibrosis in 1980, was the subject of a memoir, alex. Frank deford is a sixtime national sportswriter of the year, senior writer for sports illustrated, commentator on nprs morning edition, correspondent for hbos realsports with bryant gumbel and the author of 14 books. The life and times of miss america, big bill tilden.

His latest novel, bliss, remembered, is a love story set at the 1936 berlin olympics and world war ii. Probably his most evocative book has nothing to do with sportsits about his daughter, alexandra, who. Perhaps he didnt mean to make her death more poignant than her life, but it would be impossible to play it down. Alexandra deford, a precious and precocious girl, was just eight years old when she died in 1980 following a battle against the debilitating effects of cystic. He was a writer and actor, known for everybodys allamerican 1988, trading hearts 1988 and alex. He has been elected to the hall of fame of the national association of sportscasters and sportswriters and has been awarded both an emmy and a peabody. Deford was sitting in a beach chair a few feet behind me at coleytown middle, lower field reading the ny times and watching the game. He has been elected to the hall of fame of the national association of sportscasters and sportswriters and has been awarded. Awardwinning author frank deford, celebrated primarily as a sportswriter, was also a budding novelist and biographer at the time of his daughter s birth. May 01, 2000 the best of frank deford relates not only the specific and the spectacular events that make up great sports writing, but reflects through sports the larger world of american culture. Cf foundation mourns loss of frank deford cf foundation. Of a daughter, dying young by frank deford october 24, 1983 12. Frank deford was a longtime advocate for research and treatment of cystic fibrosis.

Alexandra deford, a precious and precocious girl, was just eight years old wh. May 29, 2017 deford was also the author of 20 books, including the novel everybodys allamerican, which was turned into a 1988 movie starring jessica lange and dennis quaid. This is a grand collection of his most vivid caricatures, colorful anecdotes, and outofleftfield observations on the often humbling and humorous nature of sport. The life of a child, is the beautiful story of his courageous young daughter with cystic fibrosis. Frank deford has 43 books on goodreads with 10920 ratings. Alex lived to be 8 years old, passing in early 1980.

May 28, 2017 frank deford susan ragan ap sports writer and commentator frank deford, who won awards for his work with sports illustrated magazine and npr, has died at 78. Eightyearold gennie james, who played sally fields daughter in places in the heart, is a texan who retained traces of her southern accent, said. Carol quit college to pursue a career in modeling and was working in new york in 1965 when she married frank deford. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. Frank deford books list of books by author frank deford. I read, alex the life of a child gunnar esiason blog. May 29, 2017 frank deford pictured, the awardwinning sports writer and commentator whose elegant reportage was a staple for years at sports illustrated, has died aged 78 at his home in key west, florida. The entitled by frank deford nook book ebook barnes. I love frank defords writing and this was his most popular book.

This is a wonderful, inspired book equal parts funny and touchinga treasure for sports fans. Frank deford susan ragan ap sports writer and commentator frank deford, who won awards for his work with sports illustrated magazine and. Awardwinning author frank deford, celebrated primarily as a sportswriter, was also a budding novelist and biographer at the time of his daughters birth. Writer frank deford takes his tale of love and loss onto tv. Frank defords memoir recalls a lost era of sportswriting, when players slept in fleabag hotels and stubbed out cigarettes in the dugout. Alexandra deford was 9 years old when she went home from the hospital for. His work has appeared in virtually every medium, including print, where he has written eloquently for sports illustrated since 1962. Whether frank deford is the voice you hear on national public radios morning edition or the name you see in the newsweek byline, you are sure to be highly entertained with the irreverent musings of this muchacclaimed sports mind. The life of a child is the book about cystic fibrosis. From legendary sixtime national sportswriter of the year and npr commentator frank deford comes a richly detailed, pageturning tale that takes you deep into americas game. Frank deford is a terrific writer, and an even better man. May 29, 2017 sometime in the late 1980s, say 1987, i was coaching a rec soccer team in westport of the youngest age group of girls. May 10, 2012 frank deford basically looks the way he writes.

May 09, 2012 frank defords memoir recalls a lost era of sportswriting, when players slept in fleabag hotels and stubbed out cigarettes in the dugout. The obituary was featured in legacy on may 29, 2017. May 29, 2017 remembering frank deford, the legendary sports illustrated writer who graced the magazines masthead for more than half a century. Frank deford is among the most versatile of american writers. Frank deford passed away on may 28, 2017 at the age of 78. He wrote more than a dozen books and in 20 he was the first sportswriter to receive a national humanities medal. It is frank defords timeless book about his daughters short battle with cf. Sometime in the late 1980s, say 1987, i was coaching a rec soccer team in westport of the youngest age group of girls. Deford joined sports illustrated in 1962, fresh, and fresh out of princeton. Deford penned it in memory of his daughter, who died of cystic fibrosis in 1980.

The life of a child 1983, was about his daughter alexandra. Frank deford is an excellent and prolific writer of both fact and fiction and who makes personal to the reader every event he shares of alexs life and death. Frank deford dead, survived by wife, son, daughter photos. Deford kept a journal of alexs courageous stand against the disease, documenting his familys struggle to cope with and celebrate the daily fight she faced. Years later, her father, awardwinning sportswriter frank deford, put his talented pen to paper to record his memories of her life and death. The triumphs and the tragedy, the owner, everybodys allamerican, alex. Deford served as the chair of the foundations board of. Deford possesses a witty and poignant take on the world of athletics that has earned him a wealth of fans, from the most ardent sports enthusiast to the. He writes movingly about his daughter alex, who died. Deford would go on to become an advocate to find a cure for the disease and serve as chairman of the cystic fibrosis foundation. His daughter alexandra, who was just 8 when she died of cystic fibrosis in 1980, was the subject of. The foundation remembers legendary sports journalist frank deford, whose young daughter, alex, lost her fight to cystic fibrosis in 1980.

May 3, 2017 frank deford bids farewell to the ringling brothers circus and has some further thoughts on taking a final bow. He was a longtime advocate for research and treatment of cystic fibrosis. My life as a sportswriter is as unconventional and wideranging as frank defords remarkable career, in which he has chronicled the heroes and the characters of just about every sport in nearly every medium. Deford is survived by his wife carol, son christan and daughter scarlet. Frank deford on june 12, 1991, holding a prototype of the final edition of the national, a sports daily where he served as editor in chief from 19891991. This is as one might expect, a highly emotional read. In 1990, he was editorinchief of the national sports daily, one of the most ambitiousand ill. May 03, 2017 deford says thanks for a good game, drops mic. Frank deford is survived by his wife and their two surviving children, scarlet and christian.

From legendary sixtime national sportswriter of the year and npr commentator frank deford comes a richly detailed, pageturning tale. So, thank you alex, for living, and thank you, frank deford, for sharing your daughter with the rest of us. The story of her struggleand scarlets subsequent adoptionwere touchingly chronicled in defords 1982 book, alex. Writer and commentator frank deford is the author of sixteen books. Deford lost his daughter, alexandra, to the disorder on january 19, 1980 when she was just eight years old. Mar 22, 2018 the foundation remembers legendary sports journalist frank deford, whose young daughter, alex, lost her fight to cystic fibrosis in 1980. Frank deford was born on december 16, 1938 in baltimore, maryland, usa as benjamin franklin deford iii. Praise for over time equal doses of selfdeprecating humor and anecdotal history of american sports journalism are the essence of frank defords entertaining new memoir. The life of a child chronicles the life of frank and carol defords daughter, alex, and the familys experience raising a child with cystic fibrosis. His daughter, alexandra, passed away as a child in 1980.

Frank deford pictured, the awardwinning sports writer and commentator whose elegant reportage was a staple for years at sports illustrated, has died aged 78 at his home in key west, florida. Frank deford talks about daughter alex the morning call. May 03, 2017 frank deford on june 12, 1991, holding a prototype of the final edition of the national, a sports daily where he served as editor in chief from 19891991. From 1982 to 1999, he served as chairman of the cystic fibrosis foundation. It was adapted into a 1986 abc telefilm with craig t. May 30, 2017 frank deford was a longtime advocate for research and treatment of cystic fibrosis. Ive always known about the book, and its success in becoming a tv movie, but for some reason i had always hesitated to pick it up and read it. His books were well recieved and included five strides on the banked track.