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Hans Holzer dies

By Stephen Wagner, About.com GuideApril 30, 2009

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One of the real giants and pioneers in the field of ghost investigation and paranormal research, Hans Holzer, died this past Sunday at the age of 89. Often called "the original Ghost Hunter," Holzer investigated thousands of ghost and haunting cases, and wrote more than 145 books on the supernatural. As a parapsychologist, Holzer's influence on today's researchers is far-reaching; many of the theories we have today about ghost phenomena are due to or heavily influenced by his work. Like many of today's writers and researchers on paranormal subjects, I was inspired and intrigued by Holzer's books beginning at an early age. Whenever I went to the library as a kid, I always sought out books about ghosts, and clearly remember some of those by Holzer -- even some of the specific cases he documented. Many of his books can still be found on my shelves, and I always pick up his old, out-of-print paperbacks whenever I find them at yard sales and thrift stores. Hans Holzer's impact on this field cannot be overstated. You can read an obituary by his daughter, Alexandra.

Comments

May 1, 2009 at 2:25 pm (1) T-Bone says:: Oh, he will be missed!

Holzer’s intelligence and intense curiosity always shine through his written words.

I’ve read many of Holzer’s books. Aside from the fact he wrote obsessively about an obsession of mine– the paranormal– he wrote in such a charming, courtly way that I developed an enormous crush on him.

There will never be another man like Hans Holzer. I’ll take one of his books off my shelf tonight and read with a grateful heart that he decided to share his world with us!
May 4, 2009 at 11:04 am (2) Nancy says:: One of the GIANTS, one of the pioneers, in the paranormal field — thank you, Alexandra for the glowing tribute to your father — well-deserved and the world — and the paranormal — will miss him. Hey, it just occurred to me — they may be welcoming him most heartily on “the other side”!
May 4, 2009 at 12:28 pm (3) Edna Roberts says:: Mr.Holzer will be missed greatly. He was an
excellent writer and kept you on the edge of
your seat with his stories.I always wanted to
meet him. Thank You Mr.Holzer for all your
hard work and endless investigations that
made your stories wonderful!!
Edna Roberts
June 26, 2009 at 9:13 pm (4) JC Tullo says:: I was inspired and intrigued by Hans Holzer’s early TV specials on the paranormal– probably some of the first ever broadcasts on this topic. I wish they could be rerun! I think the paranormal-genre TV shows of today owe their airtime to this man. They gave me a lifelong interest in the subject. Sorry he left us…

July 13, 2009 at 12:22 am (5) Johnny says:: I wonder if Hans Holzer himself is now a ghost, doing a haunt here, a haunt there…
July 17, 2009 at 6:42 pm (6) Jason Sullivan says:: A true pioneer in the world of researching the paranormal. Thank you just doesn’t seem good enough for all that he has done. Hans … you will never be forgotten. You are the first true Paranormal Hero.
September 28, 2009 at 9:24 am (7) Jackie Bramlett says:: I have just come apon some letters that Hans had written to my grandmother dated June 1971 would they be of interest to anyone?
Thank You J. Bramlett
March 9, 2010 at 7:57 pm (8) Leonard Bragg says:: I am 55 years old and have been an active investigator for over 25 years. I have always considered Hans my ghost hunting Guru. The very first book I read was “The Lively Ghosts of Ireland” published in the late ’60s. Thanks Hans.

Paranormal Investigator
Ghost Seekers of Central New York

Hans Holzer dies

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