Professor bids farewell to prominent author, friend

Earlier this month, the world lost a beloved citizen when Ned Vizzini, young adult author, took his own life. ASU's James Blasingame, associate professor in the Department of English, was a friend of Vizzini, and wrote a special farewell tribute to the author. The piece was featured in the Washington Post online.

Vizzini was famously known for his novel "It’s Kind of a Funny Story," which was later turned into an award-winning film featuring Emma Roberts and Zach Galifianakis. The novel struck a chord with Blasingame, who integrated it into his course curriculum. Over the years, the two became friends. Vizzini even made a point to Skype into a class session for a Q&A with Blasingame's students.

The ASU professor shares this and other memories in a heartfelt post that both friends and fans of Vizzini will appreciate.