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Chris C 
"Four words, never backwards."
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Sean 
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."
New Zealand
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 Posted - 09/02/2022 : 20:35:43
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From his FB page
https://www.facebook.com/tom.dupree/posts/10158355860942190
"We are so sad to report that Tom Dupree passed away this week. Here's just a glimpse of the life of a beautiful man:
TOM DUPREE
Thomas Randall Dupree, 72, was born on November 27, 1949, in Norfolk, Virginia and died at his home in New York City on February 7, 2022, from cardiorespiratory arrest. He is survived by his wife, Linda, his brothers John (Regina) Dupree from Dallas, Texas, and Rick (Diana) Dupree of Bloomington, Indiana along with numerous nieces and nephews. Tom was a professional newsman, advertising executive, critic, and editor. More importantly he was an adoring husband, steadfast friend, fierce intellect, and gregarious lover and patron of the creative spirit whether in music, theatre, cinema, or the written word.
Born in Virginia, his family moved to Jackson, Mississippi when he was only 12. To ease the transition into a new town and school, Tom�s mother purchased a saxophone and enrolled him in the marching band. It was a traumatic time for Tom, but during those years he made an enduring set of school friends who would remain important to him throughout his life. Later, to the immense relief of his family, he traded in his alto sax for the quieter craft of writing and editing, skills he honed as the editor of his high school newspaper.
During his university years at Millsaps College in Jackson, Tom acted and directed with the Millsaps Players and in community theatre. This sparked a love for live performance that never left him. While pursuing a graduate degree in journalism at the University of Georgia in the 1970�s he also began writing about music. He covered the hey-day of Southern rock as a freelance music reviewer for publications as diverse as Rolling Stone, Cream and Playboy, and many liner notes for southern rock albums of that time were written by Tom Dupree.
After finishing his degree Tom moved back to Jackson to build his career as an advertising copywriter and creative professional. He also fell in love with Linda Schrayer, the media director at a local ad agency. Though Jackson was home, Tom always had a fascination with New York City, to him the epicenter of all his commercial and creative interests, and the home of Broadway. When a job move took Linda to New York City, Tom�s passions swirled into one beautiful vortex that demanded he follow her. But how?
This led to the single most important advertising campaign of his life - selling the talents of a young copywriter from Jackson, Mississippi to the seasoned professionals of the New York agencies. He decided to exploit the then ubiquitous �I LOVE New York� posters seen throughout the city, by distributing to potential employers his own version entitled �I LOVE (a girl in) New York� full of all the heartfelt reasons why advertisers should hire him, including enabling him to complete his love story with Linda. It worked and he was hired. Tom loved to tell how on his first day in New York one of his new colleagues spoke for her co-workers, �We have to know� she asked, �is there really a girl?� Yes, there was.
Often reality fails to live up to our dreams. But not this time. Tom and Linda were happily together for over three decades. He got to live with the girl he adored in the city he had always wanted to call home. His professional career blossomed and ultimately drew him from advertising to publishing. From a humble start composing cover blurbs, he became Senior Editor at Bantam and later Executive Editor at HarperCollins. Tom worked across a wide spectrum: Louis L�Amour westerns, the Star Wars book series, fiction from Tom Robbins and Bill Fitzhugh, and wide-ranging pop culture books and memoirs, often featuring the very artists he so admired.
Tom and Linda remained avid theatre buffs and were patrons of several theatre groups. He was an outstanding audience member. Whether they knew it or not, comic actors throughout the city owe him a debt of gratitude. Often his low rumbling �heh, heh, heh� was the first encouraging laugh a grateful performer heard during a show. His only sustained complaint (which he blamed on tourists) was of the increasing ubiquity of standing ovations for every single performance. But after a truly outstanding production, no one was faster to his feet. In retirement he was pleased to use his editorial skills and love of theatre on behalf of The Players where he was Editor of the Club�s popular blog series on its history and members.
Tom Dupree lived life fully and happily. He filled up a room with personality and presence. He relished a fair argument and was never without a strong opinion even if he needed to construct one on the spot. Tom was curious, adventurous, and part of him always remained the wide-eyed boy, thrilled at magic, monsters, science fiction, and fantasy, and fascinated whenever artists reimagined the world with creative new sights, sounds and words.
But his own deepest magic was in a real life, wonderfully lived, with the woman he loved. He will be missed.
Donations in memory of Tom can be made to The Public Theater (https://publictheater.org/support-us/donate/public-gift/) or Irish Repertory Theatre (https://irishrep.org/donations/). A memorial celebration is planned for summer 2022."
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Edited by - Sean on 11/02/2022 01:49:30 |
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lemmycaution 
"Long mired in film"
Canada
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Posted - 09/02/2022 : 23:19:14
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Goodbye to the Accolade King.
Randall's reviews appeared from 2004 -2015.
I am proud to have given randall a Fourum shout-out on his arrival after seeing his first few reviews appear on the site.
I will miss his blog posts which he called, in what I hope was a nod to his time at FWFR, You and Me, Dupree.
Goodbye, Grasshopper
Sensei
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bife 
"Winners never quit ... fwfr ... "
Singapore
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Posted - 10/02/2022 : 06:35:45
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This is hard news to digest.
Randall, you were an integral part of this site, and of all our lives, for the decade when we all played here together. You showed yourself as a genuinely good man, and my life was better for knowing you.
"Randall, liked to watch". We'll miss you
Rip Randall
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benj clews 
"...."
United Kingdom
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Posted - 10/02/2022 : 14:19:57
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I only just heard this terrible news. His legacy here goes without saying but I'm glad I met Tom in person on several occasions also. Every time he was so warm and welcoming and the most fun to chat with whether it was about film or just anything really.
I always planned to meet up with him and Linda again in NYC once this whole thing calmed down enough; so sad now to think the last time we met is the last time we'll meet :( |
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MguyX
"X marks the spot"
United States
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Posted - 11/02/2022 : 01:34:21
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I have four words: I have no words.
I have always dreaded this day, when one of our crew would leave us. (I would add "to move four-ward on our own" -- because Tom dutifully would have liked that obvious and terribly silly pun -- but I leave that in this parenthetical as an aside on this somber occasion). A few times I had the great pleasure to correspond with Tom by email. Tom's warmth, wit and empathy were always present; he always made me feel befriended and cared for.
He leaves us literally thousands of witty and apropos observations on film and ourselves.
He made the site a better place, and us better folk for it.
Rest well Tom Dupree. |
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Sean
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."
New Zealand
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Posted - 11/02/2022 : 01:47:46
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I'm not often lost four words, but this is one of those times when I'm speechless.  |
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Beanmimo
"August review site"
Ireland
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Posted - 11/02/2022 : 01:56:01
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Randall was kind, generous, funny and clever, four simple words.
He is being and will be missed. |
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Corduroy Pillow
"All puns intended"
Canada
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Posted - 11/02/2022 : 18:29:39
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Thanks for posting the obituary, Sean.
Very sad to hear this news. RIP Randall. |
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Tori
"I don't get it...."
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Posted - 11/02/2022 : 18:39:48
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| You are all my family, and this was so hard to hear. Tom was such a lovely human. Thank you all for being here the past two decades <3 |
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TitanPa
"Here four more"
United States
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Posted - 11/02/2022 : 18:56:55
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Along with my heavy heart, my jaw has dropped. It is a sad day for Fwiffers everywhere. We have lost a Legend on this site. Nay, Royalty! Randall had a way with words. As we can tell with his #2 spot on the Fwiffer list. He could speak so eloquently about any topic. I found it so fascinating and mesmerizing when I read anything he wrote. I only knew him virtually. It pains me that I didn�t know the man himself. He is a brother in Fwiffs. He will forever be etched on this site and in the writing world. Rest In Peace dear Randall. Thoughts and prayers to Tom Dupree�s friends and family.
Candle Lit For Randall.  |
Edited by - TitanPa on 11/02/2022 19:00:55 |
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Whippersnapper. 
"A fourword thinking guy."
United Kingdom
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Posted - 11/02/2022 : 19:41:43
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Sad news indeed.
My sincerest condolences to his family. |
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Yukon
"Co-editor of FWFR book"
Kingston, Canada
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Posted - 11/02/2022 : 21:03:05
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Very sad news.
RIP Randall. :( |
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[matt]
"Cinemattic."
United Kingdom
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Posted - 12/02/2022 : 14:50:54
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I never met Randall but this is sad news. Interesting to read about his life.
Sending condolences to his family.
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AC
"Returning FWFR Old-Timer"
Canada
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Posted - 12/02/2022 : 18:56:28
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Hi, my beloved FWFR family. It's been way way too long since I've checked in and coming back today (thanks Cheese_Ed for the invitation to the obits) I was hoping there would be a thread observing Tom's life. My wife has been Facebook friends with Tom since long after I left Facebook, so passed on the terrible news this week. I met Tom on multiple occasions, and stayed with him on one trip to New York years ago. He was the kindest, most generous man, with a big laugh and a thirst for hearing what you had to say. I am so grateful to this site (and benj in particular) for uniting us all in this way.
It has been so joyous this morning to come back and see all the same names that were on the site when I was last a regular (over ten years ago I'd say): I hadn't visited in so long because I figured that the regulars would have moved on and the site would be used by people I didn't know. But no! So many names (dare I say all the names except for the legendary Noncentz?) from when I was using the site like a madman 20 years ago. I've missed you all. I will try to come back more often, now that I know the community is still here.
RIP Tom. You made a difference in the world. |
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Canklefish
"Let's Get OUTTA Here!"
United States
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Posted - 12/02/2022 : 21:18:29
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I've been gone too long and am now just seeing this post. I can't say that I knew Randall as well as many of you did, but I found him to be kind and generous when we did interact on various posts and forum projects.
RIP, sir... You will be missed! |
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R.I.P. Randall
