Tom Clancy, whose professional life went from modest success as an insurance salesman to a career earning millions as an author, has died, various news sources reported.
Clancy, who was 66 and was a long-time resident of Calvert County, died Tuesday night, Oct. 1 at a Baltimore hospital. A cause of death has not been reported.
During the mid-1980s Clancy wrote the novel “The Hunt for Red October,” the first of several sagas of federal agent Jack Ryan. Clancy has often been credited with the creation of a popular genre of literature known as the “techno-thriller.”
“The Hunt for Red October” drew praise from then-President Ronald Reagan, who called Clancy’s novel “a pretty good yarn.”
His subsequent novels included Red Storm Rising, Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger.
Clancy, a Baltimore County native, graduated from Loyola College (now University) in Baltimore in 1969. He majored in English. In 1986 Clancy delivered the commencement address at Loyola’s graduation. He was given a doctor of human letters at the ceremony.
Clancy had a residence in Huntingtown and was part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles.
While he was internationally known as a writer, Clancy did find himself in the local news spotlight in March of 2008. On Saturday, March 30, shortly after high noon, units from two local fire companies—Huntingtown (Company 6) and Prince Frederick—were dispatched to Clancy’s 400-acre estate for a report of a house fire. The responders took action and quickly brought the blaze under control. According to a report posted by then-Company 6 Chief Jonathan Riffe, Clancy and his wife, Alexandra, were inside the house at the time and quickly evacuated. One month later, in appreciation for their quick work, the firefighters and their families were invited to an Orioles game with seats behind home plate in the “Clancy Suite” at Camden Yards.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
