William F. Dufty, author and organizer for the UAW
By Hawke Fracassa / The Detroit News
BIRMINGHAM -- Author William F. Dufty tantalized readers. Mr. Dufty arranged his words in a compelling way, to entice people to absorb themselves in his books, plays and exposes. "He would like to be known as an eclectic writer because he was a great thinker who was all over the map," said Tim Rooks, his longtime friend and business associate. "He worked out the words in his head and he wrote in dialogue all the time. He was wonderful at conveying new ideas, old ideas, taking different pieces of puzzles and making sense of things."
Mr. Dufty died from cancer on Friday, June 28, 2002, at his home in Birmingham. He was 86.
He embraced a good cause celebre. His first and most beloved cause was unionism. Mr. Dufty was an organizer for the United Auto Workers, wrote speeches for former UAW President Walter Reuther, edited Michigan CIO News and handled publicity for Americans for Democratic Action. His columns and exposés for the New York Post drew acclaim, including one that chronicled the FBI's bungling of cases under J. Edgar Hoover's leadership.
It was, however, the marriage of his devotion to healthy eating, spirituality and writing for which he is best known. Mr. Dufty's most popular book was "Sugar Blues," published in 1975, which narrates the sins of sugar and explains why no one should eat it. "The book changed his life," Rooks said. "He had found health food. He was never in your face, but if you wanted to know, he would tell you." The revelations he discovered while writing the book led to healthier eating in his own life. His favorite meals consisted of brown rice and steamed vegetables, Rooks said. In all he collaborated on more than 40 books, including Billie Holliday's "Lady Sings the Blues" in 1956.
Mr. Dufty attended Wayne State University and in recent years he often spoke to students at the Detroit university about unionism. He served in the Army during World War II, with French soldiers, because he could speak the language. He also spoke German and Japanese.
Survivors include his son, Bevan. Mr. Dufty was married to Gloria Swanson, the silent movie star, from 1976 until hear death in 1983. They lived in many places, including New York; Rome; Portugal; and Palm Springs, Calif. After her death, he returned to Metro Detroit.
There are no services. His body was cremated.
By Hawke Fracassa / The Detroit News
BIRMINGHAM -- Author William F. Dufty tantalized readers. Mr. Dufty arranged his words in a compelling way, to entice people to absorb themselves in his books, plays and exposes. "He would like to be known as an eclectic writer because he was a great thinker who was all over the map," said Tim Rooks, his longtime friend and business associate. "He worked out the words in his head and he wrote in dialogue all the time. He was wonderful at conveying new ideas, old ideas, taking different pieces of puzzles and making sense of things."
Mr. Dufty died from cancer on Friday, June 28, 2002, at his home in Birmingham. He was 86.
He embraced a good cause celebre. His first and most beloved cause was unionism. Mr. Dufty was an organizer for the United Auto Workers, wrote speeches for former UAW President Walter Reuther, edited Michigan CIO News and handled publicity for Americans for Democratic Action. His columns and exposés for the New York Post drew acclaim, including one that chronicled the FBI's bungling of cases under J. Edgar Hoover's leadership.
It was, however, the marriage of his devotion to healthy eating, spirituality and writing for which he is best known. Mr. Dufty's most popular book was "Sugar Blues," published in 1975, which narrates the sins of sugar and explains why no one should eat it. "The book changed his life," Rooks said. "He had found health food. He was never in your face, but if you wanted to know, he would tell you." The revelations he discovered while writing the book led to healthier eating in his own life. His favorite meals consisted of brown rice and steamed vegetables, Rooks said. In all he collaborated on more than 40 books, including Billie Holliday's "Lady Sings the Blues" in 1956.
Mr. Dufty attended Wayne State University and in recent years he often spoke to students at the Detroit university about unionism. He served in the Army during World War II, with French soldiers, because he could speak the language. He also spoke German and Japanese.
Survivors include his son, Bevan. Mr. Dufty was married to Gloria Swanson, the silent movie star, from 1976 until hear death in 1983. They lived in many places, including New York; Rome; Portugal; and Palm Springs, Calif. After her death, he returned to Metro Detroit.
There are no services. His body was cremated.