Deadhouse: Life in a Coronerâ??s Office

PREFACE

vii PREFACE I began spending time at the coroner’s office in the fall of 1999. Most of the events of this book occurred in the summer of 2000. Dr. Cyril Wecht and Chief Deputy Coroner Joe Dominick granted me complete access to the coroner’s office and its functions. They asked me only to respect the wishes of employees who did not want to be part of the book; one employee asked to be left out. As a result of the generous access, I directly observed almost all of the scenic detail and dialogue in the book. I used a tape recorder and notebook extensively . I was not present for a handful of scenes, which I pieced together afterward through interviews, documents, and newspaper reports. Thus, when characters in the book say something, I either observed it directly or, in a few cases, they told me soon afterward what they had said. When a person in the book is said to be thinking something, that is based on interviews with that person. The book contains no composite figures or altered timelines. No names have been changed. Without the support of the following people, I would never have begun or completed this book. Special thanks to my friend and mentor Patsy Sims, who made this path seem possible; to my mother and writing buddy, Loranne Temple, who inspired me by example; to my wife, Hollee Schwartz Temple, who never questioned the sacrifices required to finish this book and who, despite her squeamishness, read and improved every page; and especially to my father, Daniel Benson Temple, for his enthusiasm and faith. I also owe thanks to the many other people who encouraged, counseled, and read drafts along the way, including Bruce Dobler, Diana Finch, Craig Gill, Michael Helfand, Max Houck, Dr. Jennifer Jackson, Deane Kern, Ellen Placey Wadey, Priscilla Rodd, and Lillian Thomas. Thanks also to all the employees of the Allegheny County Coroner’s Office, especially Cyril Wecht and Joe Dominick. It takes a special kind of confidence to give a journalist this kind of freedom—a confidence that comes from doing a job well.And special thanks must go to the main subjects of the book: Mike Chichwak, Ed Strimlan, Tiffani Hunt, Tracy McAninch, and Dr. Bennet Omalu. They were extremely generous with their time and patient with my endless questions. They do sensitive and important work, and they do it well. It was a privilege to observe them. viii PREFACE DEADHOUSE This page intentionally left blank ...