NYC event to honor Ledbetter is next week

Paul Smalera has organized a gathering of James Ledbetter‘s friends and colleagues—open to all who knew, worked with, and loved him—to share stories about this phenomenal editor, journalist, author and “incredibly special human being,” who passed away suddenly on Oct. 28.

Please RSVP here.

Details:

Wednesday, Nov. 6, starting at 5 p.m.

Connolly’s Pub (Times Square location)
121 W. 45th St., New York, NY 10036
(Between 6th Avenue & Broadway)
* Aim for the rooftop, but stay alert for journalists on lower levels

A Message from the Host:

A great editor, wickedly smart and funny, a prolific author in his own right, and fiercely devoted to his son Henry. I have much of my career to thank him for, and even if you don’t, I bet in a six degrees of Jim Ledbetter way, he touched your life, too.

He died far too soon, and those of us who knew him are still in shock at the idea of never being able to get his read on a draft or his take on a story, whether it be the news of the day or the 19th century literature he’d re-read for fun. Nor his thoughts about what the Knicks or Mets should be doing to get better (both lost causes until recently, which only intensified his passion for them). Or really, just to talk to him. He had a versatile, elastic mind, and he never failed to put it to use while somehow remaining completely without guile or pretense.

I do not know what arrangements Jim’s family may be making, but I know he also deserves a gathering of his other people — his New York ink-stained friends (all are welcome of course).

If you want to remember Jim with others who loved him, no matter your connection, please join.

Please RSVP! I will try to let the bar know what size of a group to expect. I hope to see many of you there, and please forward this to anyone who knew Jim. I’ve only come to further realize how many people he knew that I surely haven’t reached.—Paul