cemetery
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Exploring Bridgehampton Cemetery: A Journey Through History
Last weekend, on the way home from a weekend in the Hampton’s, I made a stop at Bridgehampton Cemetery, tucked quietly into the heart of the East. Despite the unseasonably cold April temperatures that had settled over the region, my curiosity—and my love for historical wandering—pulled me toward this quaint burial ground. As I approached…
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Serendipitous Finds in a Cemetery: Unearthing Unexpected Stories
I take walks though the cemetery all year long. Depending on the weather, a cemetery walk can sometimes be eerie and solemn, with silence, weathered tombstones, and historical weight creating a mysterious atmosphere. But despite the somber surroundings, sometimes unexpected stories emerge from beneath the gravestones. Cemeteries serve not only as resting places for the…
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How I Became the “Cemetery Writer”
Today seems like the ideal day to explain how I became known as a cemetery writer. Early on in my career as a funeral director, I learned some essential lessons: the value of rituals, the deep need to say goodbye, the illusion of closure, and the importance of a lasting memorial. In my interactions with…
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Westchester in Repose
Some of my favorite cemeteries are located in New York’s Westchester County. They are cemeteries I return to again and again. In the July issue of American Cemetery & Cremation magazine, I featured several of them in an article. Impresario Florenz Ziegfeld is buried in Kensico Cemetery with his second wife, actress Billie Burke, who famously played…
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Lessons You Can Learn From a Tour In Your Local Cemetery
If you’re looking to explore your roots, or just want to soak up some regional history, look no further than your local cemetery. On most mornings, that is exactly where I go, because I am a funeral director. But I often head there on my off-time, too. Working as a funeral director has piqued my…
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Me llamo Neuva York
A couple of years ago, I received a call from Francesc Peiron, a reporter from La Vanguardia, a Spanish daily newspaper which dates back to 1881. He was working on an article about interesting places to see, and people to meet, in New York City. He had come across my book about Green-Wood Cemetery, and…