Warren Allen Smith, a longtime atheist activist, died Monday evening at the age of 95.
While the name may not be familiar to younger atheists, he may be best known for putting together a massive compilation of famous atheists (living and dead) long before Wikipedia ever existed. His 1,237-page book showed that wonderful, moral, courageous people shared a disbelief in God’s existence, and it had a brilliant tongue-in-cheek title: Who’s Who in Hell. He later wrote a sequel called Celebrities in Hell.
His death was announced on Facebook:
I received a call about 6:00 from Atria, the assisted living facility in which Warren resided. Staff apparently checked in on Warren when he did now show up for dinner. They found him unconscience and non-responsive. No injuries or anything, and apparently he passed away peacefully and in his sleep
…
He certainly had quite a run.
Warren asked that he be cremated and specified that no memorial was to be held.
Beyond his atheism, he was also a World War II veteran and gay activist who was present at the Stonewall Riots. He never stopped fighting for what he believed in — or, rather, didn’t — even when it came at significant personal risk.
You can read more about his life right here.
(Screenshot via YouTube)
It’s Moving Day for the Friendly ..."
It’s Moving Day for the Friendly ..."
It’s Moving Day for the Friendly ..."
It’s Moving Day for the Friendly ..."