Thurber Thursday: Rosemary Thurber, 1931-2026.

Thurber House announced today that Rosemary Thurber, James Thurber’s only child, passed away on June 8th. She was 94 years old. The Last Flower, one of James Thurber’s most enduring works, carried this dedication:

When I read the Thurber House notification, my first thought went to this lovely and hopeful dedication. In November of 1939, when the book was published, Rosemary would’ve been just 8 years old (she was born October 7th, ’31).

Below: Rosemary, with her parents, James Thurber, and his first wife, Althea. Photo taken in the early 1930s.

Below: Rosemary Thurber in 2017, with Trevor Noah, who won the Thurber Prize that year.

Thurber house had this to say about Rosemary Thurber:

“Rosie has been a stalwart supporter of our mission to uphold her father’s legacy. An incredible contributor and beloved friend to Thurber House, Rosie played a pivotal role in the establishment and development of our organization. Her loss will be felt deeply by friends, family, and the entire Thurber community”

You can read a full obit here.