Pulitzer Prize-Winning Writer Art Buchwald Dies

Jan. 18, 2007 — -- Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post columnist Art Buchwald, 81, died in his Washington home on Wednesday.

In February, Buchwald voluntarily stopped dialysis treatment, after an extended stay in a Washington-area hospice. To the surprise and delight of his doctors, family and friends, Buchwald continued to live long after all expectations, even traveling to his beloved home on Martha's Vineyard for one last summer.

Buchwald declined further dialysis treatment after doctors amputated his right leg below the knee. The humorist, best known for his long-running Washington Post column, which earned a Pulitzer Prize in 1982, was given weeks to live.

From his so-called deathbed, Buchwald updated a living will, devoured McDonald's milkshakes, said farewell to friends, and even received a medal from the French ambassador to the United States honoring the writer's 50-year career.

Free from the constraints of 15 hours a week in the clinic, Buchwald met with Congress members, spoke with NPR, and, on March 10, 2006, granted ABC News what was then believed to be one of his last TV interviews.

In that interview, Buchwald then told "This Week With George Stephanopoulos" producer Lisa Koenig, "It was my decision," referring to his then monthlong refusal of dialysis.

"I thought it would be a lot faster than it is," he said. "I was supposed to be [in the hospice] for three weeks, four weeks, and it's about the ninth or eighth week that I'm still here."

Sixteen weeks later, Buchwald wrote in the column, announcing his trip out of bed and toward the beach, "The purpose of the hospice is to help you go gently into the night when all else fails. … It didn't work out that way for me."

With trademark humor, Buchwald said, "Most people that enter a hospice depart by a different door than the one they came in."

Initially, Buchwald told "This Week," his family was skeptical of his decision to stop treatment. "My son didn't like the idea at all, but he was so sweet in not pushing me."