Harry B. Warner Jr., loved by many in the science fiction community as "The Hermit of Hagerstown," passed away at his home in Hagerstown, Maryland on Monday, February 17, 2003.

For over 50 years, Warner, age 80, wrote thousands of letters to science fiction fanzines, science fiction fan histories and several short stories. He received the nonfiction Hugo Award for A Wealth of Fable: An Informal History of Science Fiction Fandom in the 1950s in 1993 as well as the Fan Writing Hugo Award in 1969 and 1972.

In 1995 he received the First Fandom Hall of Fame Award.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Andrew K. Coffman Funeral Home in Hagerstown, MD. Graveside services will be Friday, March 21 at 10 a.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery in Hagerstown with the Reverend David B. Kaplan officiating.

Posted March 19, 2003