Tom Prasada-Rao, Whose Song Elegized George Floyd, Dies at 66
His 2020 lament “$20 Bill” was covered by scores of artists and, a fellow musician said, might well be destined for the folk music canon.
By Penelope Green
Penelope Green
I am a reporter on the Obituaries desk of The New York Times.
What I Cover
I write stories about individuals who have made their mark on our culture, illuminating the lives of those who have impacted the world in often unusual ways. Some are newsmakers, like Mary Quant, who may (or may not) have invented the miniskirt; others you might not have heard of, like Catherine Burks-Brooks, who at just 21 joined the Freedom Riders and stood up to a notorious bigot, or Betty Rowland, one of burlesque’s last queens.
My Background
For over three decades as an editor and feature writer at The New York Times, I’ve covered behavioral and cultural trends, reporting on the myriad ways we work, play, eat, sleep, nest and make art. I’ve profiled musicians, authors, artists, designers and a New York City apartment building. I was one of the first American journalists to subject herself to the Marie Kondo method, and I spent the night in Manhattan’s first micro-apartment. I once visited a commune that nobody joined.
Before I joined The Times, I was an editor at 7 Days, an award-winning New York City weekly that folded in 1990. I was born in Washington, D.C., grew up in Manhattan and dropped out of Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y.
Journalistic Ethics
Like all Times journalists, I am committed to upholding the standards of integrity outlined in our Ethical Journalism Handbook.
Contact Me
Email: [email protected]
Anonymous tips: nytimes.com/tips
Featured
CreditGuy DeLort/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images 
CreditMichelle V. Agins/The New York Times 
Credit 
CreditLoren Cameron/Cleis Press 
CreditKevin Winter/Getty Images for The Tonight Show
Latest
John Everett Benson, Who Chiseled John F. Kennedy’s Grave, Dies at 84
A master of the ancient and exacting art of carving into rock, he was 25 when he began his first major commission, at Arlington National Cemetery.
By Penelope Green
Debby Lee Cohen, Who Helped Prune Plastic From Schools, Dies at 64
Her successful campaign against foam lunch trays in New York City led to similar city and statewide bans — and taught a group of fifth graders how to take on City Hall.
By Penelope Green
Sam Butcher, Who Gave the World Precious Moments, Dies at 85
His childlike porcelain characters thrilled and inspired generations of collectors. They also made him a millionaire.
By Penelope Green
Sue Johnson, Psychologist Who Took a Scientific View of Love, Dies at 76
She believed the bond between adults was as sustaining as that between parent and child, and developed a therapy to strengthen and repair broken relationships.
By Penelope Green
Caleb Carr, Author of Dark Histories, Dies at 68
His own dark history prompted him to write about and investigate the roots of violence, notably in his best-selling novel “The Alienist.”
By Penelope Green
Shirley Conran, Author Best Known for the Steamy ‘Lace,’ Dies at 91
A divorced single mother, she started out to write a sex guide for schoolgirls and ended up with a tale of female autonomy that became a best-selling novel.
By Penelope Green
Alta, Irreverent Feminist Poet and Small-Press Pioneer, Dies at 81
She wrote lusty work about her life. She also started what may have been America’s first feminist press, Shameless Hussy, in her garage.
By Penelope Green
Jeannie Epper, Stunt Double to the Stars, Is Dead at 83
Her first stunt was riding a horse bareback down a cliff when she was 9. She went on to soar on the hit TV series “Wonder Woman” and in many other places.
By Penelope Green
Barbara Stauffacher Solomon, Pioneer of Supergraphics, Dies at 95
Trained as a ballet dancer, painter and graphic designer, she was at the forefront of a movement that upended design and architecture with bold graphics.
By Penelope Green
Page 1 of 10