I first met Ed Hoch in 1971 when Al Hubin brought him and Pat along to one of our Mystery Reader parties in the Bronx. After that, we met almost every year at Bouchercon and once at Left Coast Crime. We also got together whenever I was in New York for an Edgar banquet.

   Ed was not only one of my favorite writers but also one of my favorite people. He was one of those people about whom it was impossible to say anything negative. He was modest and generous. He played a huge role in my receiving an MWA Raven in 1997, and he generously wrote the introduction to my last book. As fellow “obituarians” we were in constant touch, sharing the sad but necessary news about the death of writers. Now, he will be in one of my future columns for CADS.

   Twice I had the opportunity of interviewing him at a Bouchercon. I was happy to see him recognized, and, of course, he was his usual cooperative self during the interviews.

   I shall miss him more than I can say.

             — Marv Lachman