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In-Depth Information
In the recognition department, Herbert did all right at the end of his life. He
would have been very happy with the positive obituary he got in the
New York
Times.
JERRY WEINSTEIN
He died owing me money. He was the greatest hustler ever, and for a hustler, he
was a pretty decent guy. Very, very likeable.
DAVID LAWTON
I grew up in the very Catholic suburbs of Boston. When the people where I'm
fromfoundoutthatIwasrunningaroundwithsomeofthesepeoplelikeHuncke,
they would say, “Ugh! What are you
doing?”
And yet, to me, Huncke was one of the most elegant, graceful, classy people
I have ever met.
Their
example
is what teaches you. It's not like, “See my writing routine
here.” It's your manner, the way that you see the world, the way you take things
inandrespondtosituations,thewayyourespondtopeoplewhentheywanttobe
petty, when they want to be dicks.
Thewayherespondedtolife'scurveballsshowedusyoungerpeople,“Yeah,
calmdown!Thiskindofstuffisgoingtohappentoyou.”Hunckewouldrespond
with grace under pressure.
People of all strata—whether they were cops or Rastafarian drug deal-
ers—there's a code they respect: to remain cool under pressure. Huncke got this
respect everywhere he went. Did these cops, these dealers, know that he was
the
Herbert Huncke, who said, “I'm beat!” Not necessarily. They just knew this guy
was the real deal. He deserved respect.
DIMITRI MUGIANIS
I was in the company of guys who changed American culture—and who also
madeitcompletely fuckedup!Anditcontinues toinfluence people.Hunckewas
a real sweet guy. Huncke was a guy who would find the most dejected person in
the room and pull up a chair and start talking to him.
A friend of mine, Bob Ross, once talked to Huncke, and afterward Huncke
toldme,“Youknow,thatguyissohurt.”Andhewasright.Hunckeknewthatby
talking to him just one time.
You know what Huncke was? He was the coolest white man that ever lived.
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