5 Graves You Should Visit While You’re Still Alive
Patrick Caulfield at Highgate Cemetery (London)
- Born: Jan. 29, 1936
- Dead: Sept. 29, 2005
- Cause of Death: Cancer
- What to Bring: Pop-art ideology
Patrick Caulfield and I share the same birthday. The British painter was famous for his minimalist approach to still-life and was of the artists part of the collage for The Who’s Face Dances.
A notoriously shy and private person, Caulfield’s angular tombstone stands out as edgy, bold, figurative art with “D.E.A.D.” sculpted into the tomb. His still-life paintings were calm and minimal and the tomb is a contrast to his persona and work, making a bold statement. Modern art, even in death.
Merv Griffin at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery (Los Angeles)
- Born: July 6, 1925
- Dead: Aug. 12, 2007
- Cause of Death: Prostate Cancer
- What to Bring: Ryan Seacrest
Alex Trebek, Vanna White and Pat Sajak would not have jobs had it not been for media mogul Merv Griffin. Nor would you have anything to watch after the news and before you favourite prime-time series. Griffin was a popular American TV host and game show creator, the most famous examples being Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
Griffin passed away in 2007 and his granite gravestone speaks for itself: “I Will Not Be Right Back After This Message.” I wonder if Ryan Seacrest is considering the same inscription on his gravestone.