Tom Wolfe’s Wife Sheila Wolfe

Sheila Wolfe

Sheila Wolfe was married to Tom Wolfe for many years, she survives her nonfiction writer and novelist husband following his death in a Manhattan hospital. He was 87.

Sheila’s husband was a bestselling author who helped create the enormously influential hybrid known as the New Journalism. Born March 2, 1931; the Richmond, Virginia native graduated from Washington and Lee University and received a Ph.D. degree in American studies from Yale University.

He began his career as a reporter at the Springfield Union in Massachusetts. He later moved to Washington and eventually NYC where he joined The New York Herald Tribune in 1962. Thomas Wolfe is the man behind “The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby,” “The Right Stuff” and “Bonfire of the Vanities.” Other books include “The Electric Kool‐Aid Acid Test” and “Radical Chic & Mau‐mauing the Flak Catchers.”

As well as his tales of excess and status seeking, Wolfe was as well-known for his sartorial styling, most often sporting a three-piece white, bespoke suit – a look that he once described as “Neo-pretentious” –the Guardian points out.

Tom and wife, Sheila Wolfe were married for 40-years. He is survived by his longtime wife and their two grown children.

According to a wedding announcement on the NY Times, the two tied the knot on May 27, 1978.

Sheila Wolfe was born Sheila Berger. Her father, Samuel Berger of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. –was an engineer with the Port. Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Sheila graduated from Pratt Institute and worked as an art director of Harper’s magazine for years. During their marriage Tom and Sheila Wolfe welcomed two children, a daughter Alexandra; and a son, Tommy.

The couple’s daughter Alexandra Wolfe followed into her father’s footsteps by becoming a journalist. She currently resides in New York. Tommy Wolfe lives in Brooklyn and he like his mother, became interested in art and designs furniture.