I seem to recall hearing of a fire that damaged or destroyed his apartment some years ago..perhaps in New York?

here are some other links..an NPR story with Renee Montagne:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1426772

a Salon web page which features Kurt reading:
http://archive.salon.com/audio/fiction/2001/02/20/vonnegut/index

HE WAS HOSPITALIZED IN 2000 WITH SMOKE INHALATION AFTER A CIGARETTE
STARTED A FIRE IN HIS APARTMENT (caps lock un-intentional)
http://www.vonnegutweb.com/vonnegutia/interviews/int_crimson.html

more:
http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/tuvonnegut.html

Author Kurt Vonnegut dies;

WWII vet saw absurdity of war

NEW YORK - Kurt Vonnegut, the satirical novelist and World War II veteran who captured the absurdity of war and questioned the advances of science in darkly humorous works such as "Slaughterhouse-Five" and "Cat's Cradle," died yesterday at age 84, his wife said.

Vonnegut, who often marveled that he had lived so long despite his lifelong smoking habit, had suffered brain injuries after a fall at his Manhattan home weeks ago, said his wife, photographer Jill Krementz.

The author of at least 19 novels, many of them best-sellers, as well as dozens of short stories, essays and plays, Vonnegut relished the role of a social critic. He lectured regularly, exhorting audiences to think for themselves and delighting in barbed commentary against the institutions he felt were dehumanizing people.

a biography/timeline: http://www.millikin.edu/aci/crow/chronology/vonnegutbio.html


in this article it is mentioned how he and his wife adopted
several nephews and nieces when their parents died within
days of each other..this must be what is meant by the former
poster who said the family doubled in size over night...
(i thought they had twins or triplets!)
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070411/LOCAL/704110581

family plans private service:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070412/LOCAL/704120576/0/BUSINESS