It saddens me to say that author and friend of Pensburgh Jack Falla passed away this morning at 3:30am from a heart attack while vacationing with his family in Maine.
Jack was a gracious man who went above and beyond for his readers. I first read his book Saved a few months ago and wanted to talk to the man behind the product right away. Jack was a teacher at Boston University, and in turn it made it conveniently accesible to contact him. Within an hour or so Jack was e-mailing me back, excited about my passion for his work and more than happy to grant an interview.
From there, Jack and I corresponded through e-mails regularly. If there's one thing that stood out about Jack it was his passion. Heck, the man had an ice rink built in his backyard and invited neighbors and friends over for games.
Just recently, Jack sent me a copy of his latest book Open Ice. It hit stores just last week and the guy was pumped about it. I'd just like to share the latest e-mail with you guys:
Hi, Frank...glad to know you got the review copy.
It's a strange book, for sure. But honest and heartfel. Call me anytime. I'm at xxx-xxx-xxxx. I teach Tues and Thurs at Boston U (a.k.a Hockey U) until early afternoon but, aside from that, I'm just here at my desk trying to write a new sports/humor novel.
New novel -- working title Odd-Man Rush -- is the story of an owner faced with the rise of a new Euro Super League poaching his players and the downward spiral of his team, arena and love life. Actually, the owner is Cam Carter' s father recast from SAVED as a much more sympathetic character. (Not his fault he's 62 with a prostate that would need only an air valve and the commissioner's signature to be an NFL game ball).
Jack
Unfortunately we'll never see his work in progress, but I'd implore you all to check out Open Ice. I'm only one essay in and I have to say it's ironic that it talks about his relation to the sport and mortality. In fact, the entire book does. You almost have to wonder if he knew something no one else did.
While this was a friendship for only a short time, Jack is surely a member of Pensburgh that will be sorely missed.