Remembering James Grauerholz
Bill Rich, William S Burroughs and James Grauerholz April 26, 1989, Toronto. © 2026 Bill Rich
By Bill Rich
In 1976, author William S. Burroughs was invited to the University of Kansas to meet individually with some English Department students, which included me. James had a clipboard and list and coordinated the appointments and we casually talked. A few years later James was living in Lawrence and we started to run into each other while seeing live music and also at parties. In 1980 when I was involved with my fanzine, he suggested that I rent an office space next to his office and that worked out well.
I started being around and helping James and William as the years went on. In 1982 I traveled with them to England as William’s assistant, a role often repeated over the next ten years. In 1987 James and I put on a week-long festival called the River City Reunion. I knew how to produce entertainment events and he knew how to contact counter cultural and beat personalities. By 1989, I was working full-time as Office Manager and Personal Assistant to William, which lasted until 1991. I was one of William’s pall-bearers in 1997. I had moved into one of their vacant houses about 1989 and purchased it in 1999. We were part of each other’s world. James had invited and welcomed me into his pool party scene in the early 2000’s.
In 2013 I was recruited to organize business files and help out. That was successfully done and maintained up to the pandemic. Sometime around 2008 or so, James had lost his business accountant and decided to quit filing and paying taxes. We had years of receipts to sort. There was always a very healthy cash flow, we just had to get right again with the other responsibilities. We got that pretty much taken care of eventually. For the next seven years, I was coming in a few hours a few times a week with the incoming mail to be processed, doing banking and arranging payments and such including for the 4 or 5 properties. James was being productive and creative, and making deals and working with his agents on the estate and other things while physically aging. I last saw him Labor Day weekend 2020 in his backyard. A few days later when I showed up at my work station he had left me a short termination note.
We had no contact until I called him in 2023 on his birthday, and he talked with me for 2 and a half hours. The following year I sent a birthday text which received a not so positive reply. In 2025, I sent him another cheerful birthday greeting. He died a few weeks later on New Year’s Day 2026.
James Grauerholz Funeral
James Grauerholz passed away January 1, 2026 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital from pneumonia and other ailments. He had been in declining health for several years. The funeral and the viewing were held on January 8, 2026, at 4 pm. Selections from James’ album, “Life’s Too Good to Keep” played in the background. Fifty-some people were in attendance. The front left side had several rows of relatives. Wayne Propst presided over the event and spoke of meeting James in Lawrence in Year 1, Episode 1 and concluding in Year 56, Episode Unknown. He read the Frank O’Hara poem, “Lana Turner has collapsed!” from the program. Several friends and cousins spoke. A tape of The Rolling Stones’ “Tumbling Dice” ended the event. Photographer Jon Blumb documented the funeral and was also one of seven who attended the internment at the feet of William S. Burroughs in the Bellefontaine Cemetery in St Louis, MO following day, January 9, 2026 at 2 pm.
The bifold funeral program has on the cover a photograph by Phillip Heying of James reading into a microphone from “Naked Lunch” and also a floral arrangement from the family. Inside is a William S. Burroughs painting which contains the phrase, “We’re all spirits and melted into air”. The third page is a poem entitled “Perfect Pitch Cannot Be Learned” by James Grauerholz. The backside is the Frank O’Hara piece, “Lana Turner has collapsed!”
James Grauerholz funeral program, back and front covers. Cover photo by Philip Heying, poem "Lana Turner Has Collapsed" by Frank O'Hara.
James Grauerholz funeral program, inside pages with artwork by William S. Burroughs and poem "Perfect Pitch Cannot Be Learned" by James Grauerholz.
Funeral service attendees, January 8, 2026 © 2026 Jon Blumb
Funeral service attendees, January 8, 2026 © 2026 Jon Blumb
Funeral service attendees, January 8, 2026. © 2026 Jon Blumb
Post funeral. Wayne Propst, Bill Rich, January 8, 2026. © 2026 Jon Blumb
Post funeral, January 8, 2026 © 2026. Jon Blumb
Graveside, Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum, St. Louis, Missouri. Left to right, Chris Garibaldi, cousin Susie with husband, Mark Henning, Jason Eberth, Tom Peshio, Jon Blumb. © 2026 Jon Blumb
Burroughs family obelisk. January 9, 2026. © 2026 Jon Blumb
Burroughs family obelisk, Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum, St. Louis, Missouri. © 2026 Jon Blumb
Chris Garibaldi and Mark Henning. © 2026 Jon Blumb
Gravesite after ceremony, January 9, 2026. © 2026 Jon Blumb
James Grauerholz Sendoff
On February 19, 2026, 49 days after the death of James Grauerhoz, there was a Buddhist ceremony for his sendoff, organized by Tom Peschio. Around 75 or so people attended the gathering at his residence. It was set up poolside. Wayne Propst hosted with about a dozen speakers. The reading of the prayers was led by Mark Henning. A small pyre was used to burn notes and such to support him on his journey.
Temperatures had dropped below freezing. Afterwards, the celebration resumed inside. Jon Blumb documented with photos and video. Earlier in the month, there had been another Buddhist-type service at a former residence, the Bunker in New York.
The cover of the program for James’ remembrance.
Untitled painting, page 2 of the program for James’ remembrance.
Page 3 of the program for James’ remembrance.
A poem by Louise Bogan and photo of James Grauerholz, page 4 of the remembrance program.