"100 Things To Do Before You Die" Author Dies At 47

LOS ANGELES — Dave Freeman, co-author of "100 Things to Do Before You Die," a travel guide and ode to odd adventures that inspired readers and imitators, died after hitting his head in a fall at his home. He was 47.

Freeman died Aug. 17 after the fall at his Venice home, his father, Roy Freeman, told the Los Angeles Times on Monday.

An advertising agency executive, Freeman co-wrote the 1999 book subtitled "Travel Events You Just Can't Miss" with Neil Teplica. It was based on the Web site whatsgoingon.com, which the pair ran together from 1996 to 2001.

"This life is a short journey," the book says. "How can you make sure you fill it with the most fun and that you visit all the coolest places on earth before you pack those bags for the very last time?"

Freeman's relatives said he visited about half the places on his list before he died, and either he or Teplica had been to nearly all of them.

"He didn't have enough days, but he lived them like he should have," Teplica said.

The book's recommendations ranged from the obvious _ attending the Academy Awards and running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain _ to the more obscure _ taking a voodoo pilgrimage in Haiti and "land diving" on the Island of Vanuatu, which Freeman once called "the original bungee jumping."

It included goofy graphics with each entry, indicating that some activities were "down and dirty," and others "grandma friendly."

The success of "100 Things" inspired dozens of like-minded books, with titles such as "100 Things Project Managers Should Do Before They Die" and "100 Things Cowboys Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die."

Freeman graduated from the University of Southern California in 1983, briefly working for an ad agency in Newport Beach before moving to New York to work for Grey Advertising.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Freeman watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center from his apartment just blocks away. He moved back to Southern California to be closer to his family.

___

Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com

Comments

[framah]

So... where is hitting your head and dying on that list? I guess that was #100.

[scorpioleidy]

not nice ...

[El]

not nice, but pretty funny

[Agentlady007]

I think we should pretty much take the rest of the copies from this book OFF the bookstore shelves.

[TrueBlueMajority]

actually, this will make the book sell faster.

if people realized they could die at any time they would not postpone joy.

[Theda]

Walking on your hands? Yeah, that IS dumb.
I'd rather get inspiration from people who lived long and happy lives, like artist Beatrice Wood, who died at age 105. She's my role model.
And maybe Freeman shouldn't have focused on the word "die."

[QueenCeleste]

I am also inspired by the remarkable Beatrice Wood, "mama to the dadaists." I remember an interview where she sang the praises of cleaning the kitchen sink, and how to think of it as an experience and not a chore.

[Theda]

Beatrice Wood was an incredible woman....and the inspiration for "old Rose" in Titanic.

[PhantomAviator]

..

Pay attention, Alanis...THIS is ironic.

Rest in peace.

.

[Kmuzu]

Yes .. yes it is

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

This is REAL irony, not that Alanis "irony".

[freedomisabsolute]

Maybe the ironic part of the song is that nothing in it is ironic, don't ya think? Lyrics, not ironic but the song itself, ironic.

[hellifiknow]

cosign on that one!

[tcagle]

Looks like moving that thing on the floor before tripping over it wasn't on the list.

[Fuji]

I'm sorry the guy died. But I was never a fan of those 100 things to do/buildings to see/movies to see/books to read lists ... Whenever I saw those lists, I always figured I could do my own list and I didn't need some a-hole telling me what I "needed" to do.

And really, I'm sure the guy meant well. But things like learning to walk on your hands? Shut the hell up already. I'll be whimsical in my own way, thank you.

[CenterLeftLawyer]

I read the list. It is actually pretty good. I think the author's point is not to follow his list, but to set some (non-finaincial) goals, think outside the box and do some unpredictable things in life.

In his honor here is Number 101-Spend less time reading on-line comments (and responding to them) enjoy the outdoors.

[tasukibeth1]

He fell and hit his head? God, what a sh***y way to go. At least he did some cool stuff first.

[Horus]

Nevermind I realized his relatives said he got about half the list done.

[Vinca]

I pretty much believe,< WHAT WILL BE, WILL BE

[Horus]

I wonder how many of those thijngs he got done?

[BarackMan]

WOW...life is short....then you die.

[Vinca]

BarackMan: Have you heard the phrase, < LIVE AND LEARN< DIE AND FORGET IT ALL?

[OhComeOnNow]

What irony - you couldn't make this up.

[filo]

Ironic? Yes, but there is a lesson to be learned here.

[ignorantwillyharper]

Geez, what a bummer.