LOS ANGELES (Aug. 26) - 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.
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Dave Freeman
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.
