Published on Thursday, August 28, 2008
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'100 Things To Do...' author passes away, leaves legacy


By JEN HANCE

Dave Freeman, co-author of the hit book “100 Things to Do Before You Die” passed away on Aug. 17. According to his father, Roy Freeman, Dave died after falling down and hitting his head in his Venice home.

The book was a list of obscure and adventerous places that he and other author Neil Teplica suggest readers to visit before they die. The authors started the book with a short note saying, “This life is a short journey. 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?”

Though his travel plans were cut tragically short, Freeman was able to visit about half of the places on his infamous list, and participated in some extremely dangerous activities.

Freeman dubbed land-diving in the South Pacific as his most exhilarating adventure, and rightly so, as it involves leaping off of tall towers with only a vine attached to your leg. Vanuatu land-diving is considered the “original bungee jump,” and though it is fairly popular among tourists, it was actually a fertility ritual thought to make the land fertile and ensure a good yam harvest.

10 Things to do Before You Graduate from NIU
1. Become Victor E. Huskie for a day.
2. Experience a kiss on the infamous “Kissing Bench”
3. Visit the memorial of Edward the Goose and hear his story (near the Lagoon)
4. Explore the mysterious tunnels that go under NIU (but get permission first)
5. Be featured in the Northern Star (check)
6. Try to get to the 13th floor of Grant and Stevenson (not easy to do!)
7. Go to the “Skyroom” in the Holmes Student Center (it is the highest point on campus)
8. Take one ridiculous or off the wall class just for fun (There are classes about everything ranging from James Bond to Psychadellic Drugs)
9. Visit the Davis Hall Observatory (A great date and you can look in the telescope and see just about every crater on the moon.)
10. Check out a show at the convo (We have great acts that come here, and it is right in your back yard!)

The two authors have listed numerous other strange yet interesting ideas in their book including nude nightsurfing in Australia and going on a voodoo pilgrimage in Haiti. The vast locations challenge readers to get out and see the unique cultures and practices of people around the world.

As unfortunate as it is to lose a daring and admirable man such as Freeman, his legacy will live on in his bestselling book, as he inspires others to go out and live their lives, exploring the beautiful world we live in.

I myself have been inspired to make a list of my own, which you can read to the left.

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