On September 15, 2002, the painter Robert LaVigne discovered he was dead. His demise was announced in The New York Times, the paper of record, which gave the pronouncement weight. He felt himself – arms, hands, chest, knees – and took a deep breath. Still here.
The occasion for the error was an occasional column known as The Way We Live Now. The Times printed a photo that included Lawrence Ferlinghetti and asked for his commentary.
I am the only one in the picture still alive, because I work out all
the time. They didn’t work out except raising the elbow or rolling
joints. (more)
I remembered this story because the Times has once again printed the photograph.
From left, Bob Donlon, Cassady, Allen Ginsberg, Robert LaVigne and Lawrence Ferlinghetti in San Francisco
When was it taken? In 2002, The Times said 1955. Now, it says 1956. Also, although Bob thinks his last name is LaVigne, The Times currently insists it’s La Vigne. What does he know?
Not to quibble, which would be karmically unwise. If I have a bit of an attitude about The Times’ coverage of this event, however, it’s because Bob called me in 2002 to ask what he should do about his demise. I offered to alert the newspaper to its error, and he gratefully accepted.
Much to my surprise, The Times did not want to be alerted. After a long run-around, I finally got the editor of the section, who told me that LaVigne would have to prove he was alive to get a correction. I was going to ask how he would go about doing so, but she had already hung up. I admitted defeat, and Bob asked a more important friend, I think Daniel Sullivan, who got the job done.
This is not the only time I have hit a wall at The Times. I wrote to ask for a correction to the story on the link, and so did the Seattle Art Museum. Five months later, no correction. Maybe SAM should ask for Daniel Sullivan’s help.
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