Washington DC

Finally got the chance to tour two of Washington DC's standout cemeteries: Oak Hill and Congressional. So many monuments caught my attention, some for the notable person buried below, some for the architecture, and others for the inscription. This one, with its powerful and poignant message, is a case in point.

The history of us: Tombstone tourism connects visitors to Long Island's past

Little has been written about Long Island's many historically rich cemeteries. So, I was most pleased to write about ten of them for Newsday. My story is the cover for today's Long Island Life section.

The history of us: Tombstone tourism connects visitors to Long Island's past

Green-Wood Cemetery continues to be a treasure trove for story ideas. My latest is in this month's American Cemetery & Cremation magazine. Even though all four of the monuments featured in the article appear in my cemetery books, I've since learned even more about them, and their back stories. 

Green-Wood's "Bride"

Way back when, the first significant monument I was introduced to at Green-Wood was the "bride." So significant was this that I noted it in my first book Grave Undertakings. Naturally, I included this monument in my second book, Green-Wood Cemetery. Since that time, I've learned more about the sad backstory behind the striking statuary. The young woman was indeed a bride who died from a cerebral hemorrhage on her honeymoon, just days after her wedding.The statue was commissioned by her father, who wanted the memorial to be a carbon copy of how his daughter looked on her wedding day. The artisans worked from photographs from the famed Marcy studios. For two years, the statue was a work in progress; sketches were done before it was sent to Italy to be carved. Here is one of the early sketches.

Remembering Mayor Edward I. Koch 1924-2013

Edward I. Koch, New York City's beloved mayor (and my favorite) died six years ago today. It was a privilege to attend his funeral, and write about it for 'American Funeral Director.' Of the thousands of funerals I've been at over the years, Mayor Koch's remains my favorite. It incorporated all the elements of a good funeral, and the memory of his casket being shouldered out of Temple Emanu-El to the tune of New York New York is indelible.

Mayor Koch is buried in Trinity Cemetery (uptown).

I've long admired the work of journalist Lisa Colangelo, so I was thrilled  to give her a tour of these two fabulous cemeteries.

Explore the secrets and hidden history of Queens' Calvary and Saint John cemeteries 

Alexandra Mosca, author and funeral director, takes amNewYork on a tour of the sprawling cemeteries.

Explore the secrets and hidden history of Queens' Calvary and Saint John cemeteries Alexandra Mosca, author and funeral director, takes amNewYork on a tour of the sprawling cemeteries.

Happy 100th Birthday Leonard Bernstein