The Literary Community Is Saddened By The Death Of Fred Bass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           I am sure I am not the only one reeling over the death of Fred Bass, whose name was, and forever will be, synonymous with The Strand Bookstore, on West 12th Street.

                          His death, yesterday, from congestive heart failure, at 89, brought sadness, and a flurry of questions.  What will happen to The Strand now?  While daughter Nancy Bass Wyden has been overseeing things for some time, her competency, over the years, has been questioned, but, at least she had her father to go to, for advice.

                           With Fred now departed, what will Nancy do now?  Let me say I hope she keeps running The Strand, not selling parts of the building, like Lord And Taylor, so that those of us, including myself, who consider it one of our homes away from home, can still count on it being that.

                              Time will tell.  I am sure Fred's spirit will be ever present about the place.  And may even make some appearances.

                              But please don't take The Strand from those of us who love it!

                              Nancy, please keep things going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!