Bel Kaufman Dead at 103

William Haskins

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Bel Kaufman, who turned her experiences teaching in the New York City public schools into the comic novel “Up the Down Staircase,” one of the best-selling books of the 1960s, which was later made into a film, died July 25 at her home in Manhattan. She was 103.

Her daughter, Thea Goldstine, confirmed the death to news outlets. The cause was not disclosed.

With pitch-perfect tone, “Up the Down Staircase” captured the humor, pathos and administrative nonsense of the urban high schools in which Ms. Kaufman had taught for 15 years.

“Staircase,” which was published in 1965, stayed on bestseller lists for 15 months, including five months at No. 1. When the paperback edition was issued in 1966, more than 1.5 million copies were sold in the first month.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/enter...dae548-14d5-11e4-9285-4243a40ddc97_story.html
 

J.S.F.

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My mother went to Hunter College. Although she graduated a few years after Ms. Kaufman did, everyone knew of Ms. Kaufman's reputation and wit and remembered her well.

RIP