Lewis A. Nordan

Lewis A. "Buddy" Nordan, author of eight books of fiction, including the acclaimed novel, Wolf Whistle, passed peacefully from this life on Friday, April 13, 2012. He was 72. A native of Itta Bena, Miss., Buddy lived throughout the South until moving to Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1983, where he was professor of creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh until his retirement in 2005. At the time of his death, he was a resident of Laurel Lake Retirement Community in Hudson, Ohio. His work has been described as "somewhere between Southern gothic and magic realism," though Buddy, himself, preferred to call it American literature. He enjoyed a cult following of readers from all over the U.S. as well as internationally. His books have been translated into four languages and have received countless awards and prizes. Buddy received his Ph.D. from Auburn University, his MA from Mississippi State University and his BA from Milsap's College in Jackson, Miss. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Saratoga from 1957-1959. He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Alicia; and his devoted sons, Lewis E. Nordan (JoAnn) of Gaithersburg, Md., Josh Conn of State College, Pa., and Adam Conn (Colleen) of Columbus, Ohio. Two sons, G. Russell Nordan and John Robert Nordan preceded him in death. He was the beloved "Papa" to six grandchildren: Julian, Erinn, Justin, Lewis Edward, Armond and Jonas. A small memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 21, at 2 p.m. at Laurel Lake Retirement Community, 200 Laurel Lake Drive, in Hudson. A memorial service to be held in Pittsburgh is being planned for later in the spring. Contributions may be sent to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Montgomery, Ala., or to Alcoholics Anonymous.