Cemetery Books

 My interest in historic cemeteries led to two books: Green-Wood Cemetery and Gardens of Stone.





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Gardens of Stone was published in 2016. It contains stories about well-known and lesser-known individuals from New York. The book also includes photographs of many of their final resting places. You can purchase Gardens of Stone from  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online booksellers.


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Guides for Exploring New York

The book was mentioned in Sam Roberts Bookshelf column in The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/25/nyregion/catskills-borscht-belt-new-york.html






Published in 2008, Green-Wood Cemetery is a pictorial history of one of the world's greatest cemeteries. Its roster of famous names reads like a who's who of America: Tiffany, Steinway, FAO Schwarz, Currier & Ives, DeWitt Clinton and so many more.

You can order Green-Wood Cemetery on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and many other online retailers.












Green-Wood Cemetery Book Q & A

What made you choose Green-Wood Cemetery as a book subject?

When I discovered (through a fortuitous trajectory of events) that Arcadia Publishing was including cemeteries in its Images of America series, I contacted them immediately. I wondered how they could not include Green-Wood in their series. After all, apart from its magnificence, this is the most famous cemetery in America.

My familiarity with the cemetery and my work as a funeral director was another factor. Having been there many times over the years, I was familiar with many of the famous names. But when I began the book project, my research continually surprised me as I found more and more fascinating stories. It became a question of winnowing down the subjects because Arcadia's Images of America Series books have limited pages. Even if I were to publish Green-Wood Cemetery Part II, III, and IV, that would not be enough to encompass all the stories Green-Wood has to tell. New stories are being discovered all the time.

How did you research?

I read everything I could: Newspaper archives from the Brooklyn Eagle and New York Times, newspaper clippings, websites, historical societies and the Library of Congress. One of my goals in doing this book was to reacquaint readers with the history of this great city. We've all learned the names DeWitt Clinton, Elias Howe, Boss Tweed, Horace Greeley and Peter Cooper, in school as children, Yet, over the years their substantial contributions have become vague--even forgotten by some. I've also highlighted some of the key people who founded what became national corporations: Pfizer, Squibb, Tiffany, Steinway and FAO Schwarz.

What are the names of some of Green-Wood's most famous permanent residents?

Many of the names I mentioned in response to the previous question are household names today. There are others like Currier & Ives and Leonard Bernstein, who were not only famous but beloved. Then, there are those whose names may not be familiar, but their accomplishments are. For instance, you may not know George Tilyou, but almost everyone knows of Coney Island's Steeplechase Park. Henry Bergh is another name that may need to be more readily recognizable. However, this man founded the ASPCA and has been honored time and again for his incredible contribution to society.

What Impresses you about the way the place is operated?

There are so many ways in which Green-Wood reaches out to the community. Their outreach to the local students teaches respect for cemeteries and an introduction to history that augments some of what they are learning in a tangible way. The Civil War Project is another example. Volunteers have worked hard to identify veterans previously buried in unmarked graves. Over the last twenty years, the cemetery administration has brought the cemetery to the broader public's attention, elevating Green-Wood to one of New York City's premiere cultural institutions. Many refer to Green-Wood as an outdoor history museum.

What have you done at Green-Wood to promote your book? Have you given any tours or lectures?

Yes, I have given the public several sold-out trolley tours of Green-Wood and numerous private tours. Last year, one of my trolley tours was a favorite listing in Time Out New York, one of the city's premiere entertainment weeklies. Most recently, I was part of a panel discussion at the Old Stone House, a historic home in Brooklyn. Last year, I was part of a similar panel at the Brooklyn Historical Society. This is in addition to numerous book signings at various bookstores and Green-Wood's historic chapel. I've been enjoying promoting Green-Wood, the book, and the place, through social media lately.





                You may also be interested in: 

Reading my article about Green-Wood's most popular tour guide 















A portion of my interviews with American Cemetery & Cremation and The Director magazines upon the publication of Gardens of Stone.









                                                    Newsday Feature,  October 18, 2019 






























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