Gary S. Chafetz

Gary S. Chafetz (* 26. August 1947) ist ein US-amerikanischer Journalist und Autor.

Leben

Gary Chafetz ist der Sohn des Psychiaters Morris Chafetz und der Herausgeberin Marion Chafetz, geb. Donovan. Er studierte an der University of Massachusetts. Ab 1987 arbeitete er als freier Journalist, bevor er 1989 beim Boston Herald anfing. Ab 1991 war er Korrespondent des Boston Globe. Er führte mehrere Interviews mit Jack Abramoff von Juni 2006 bis Mai 2008 vor dessen Verurteilung und während dessen Haft.

Chafetz heiratete 1988 eine Managerin und wurde Vater von zwei Kindern. Er lebt in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In 1974, film producer Saul David (Fantastic Voyage, Von Ryan's Express, Our Man Flint) optioned for two years Chafetz's first novel, "Kathmandu"(Signet Books).

In 1978, he won the Mass Artists Foundation prize in fiction ($3,500, $14,000 today). Esteemed recipients include Jonathan Franzen (1986), Sue Miller (1984), Andre Dubus (1975), Rita Mae Brown (1977) Gish Jen (1987), Tim O'Brien (1976), and poet laureate Robert Pinsky.

https://massculturalcouncil.org/artists-art/artist-fellowships/artist-fellowships-for-all-time-list/

From 1983-84, Chafetz organized and led a $250,000 archeological expedition into Egypt's Western Desert--sponsored by the National Geographic Society and Harvard University (Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology)--in search of a 50,000-man Persian army (the legendary Lost Army of Cambyses), smothered in a sandstorm in 525 BC. No trace has ever surfaced. Chafetz had twenty Egyptians, three camels, five jeeps, two trucks, subsurface radar, an ultralight airplane, which he flew over the Great Sand Sea for six months, searching high and low without success.

[See p.173 "Our Awesome Earth" by National Geographic Society, 1986.]

At the time, Jane Goodall and he were the only ones without a PhD to receive a grant from the prestigious National Geographic's Committee for Research and Exploration. She later received hers.

Martin Scorsese (and Disney) optioned Chafetz's life-story expedition rights for four years.

The Boston Globe nominated Chafetz twice for a Pulitzer Prize.

In 1991, The New England AP awarded him first Place in General News.

In 1992, Boston Magazine named Chafetz "Best Reporter" of the year; and in 1993, named him as one of only ten reporters to its "Print's Dream Team: The Best Of The Best."

In 1994, the Boston Magazine cover featured a book Chafetz had written for Random House. For over 100 hours, he secretly interviewed the book's subject--a renowned Harvard female psychiatrist accused of having lurid sex with her patient, a much younger Harvard Medical School student, and causing his suicide.

Chafetz wrote another nonfiction book, "The Perfect Villain," about disgraced DC lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who appeared on the cover of Time Magazine as "The Man Who Bought Washington." Abramoff secretly met with Chafetz for over two years without the knowledge of the federal prosecutors with whom Abramoff was cooperating. Chafetz also interviewed Abramoff thirteen times in federal prison in Cumberland, MD.

In 2012, Betty Youngs Books published, "The Search for the Lost Army," Chafetz's semi-autobiographical novel, based on his expedition.

Chafetz has also penned thirteen scripted dramas, of which two have been optioned.

Werke

• The Search for the Lost Army: The National Geographic and Harvard University Expedition. Novelle. Bettie Youngs Book Publishers, 2013, ISBN 978-1-936332-98-4.
• Obsession: The Bizarre Relationship Between a Prominent Harvard Psychiatrist and Her Suicidal Patient. Crown Publishers, New York 1994, ISBN 978-0-517-59558-9
• The Perfect Villain : John McCain and the Demonization of Lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Martin & Lawrence, Groton 2008, ISBN 978-0-97738988-9.
• Donald L. Brown; Gary S. Chafetz: The Morphine Dream. Bettie Youngs Book Publishers, 2013, ISBN 978-1-936332-25-0.

Weblinks

• Literatur von und über Gary S. Chafetz in der bibliografischen Datenbank WorldCat
• Profil bei Linkedin