Ayn Rand, Paul Ryan's favorite author, buried in Westchester

Sunday August 12, 2012 1:13 PM By Kirthana Ramisetti

Ever since Mitt Romney announced that Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) as his choice for vice president, much has been made about the young congressman’s link to the author Ayn Rand, author of “The Fountainhead” and “Atlas Shrugged.”

Early in his political career, Ryan openly praised Rand and cited her as a key influence on his life. As Romney’s new running mate, his literary taste has renewed interest in Rand, and her libertarian philosophy and bibliography are being scrutinized in order to give insight into the man who just might be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

With the flurry of interest in the controversial author, we thought it was worth noting that Rand is buried at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla.  She passed away at the age of 77 in 1982 and  was buried next to her husband, Charles Francis O’Connor, who died in 1979. According to the Kensico Cemetery website, at her funeral Rand was laid out in a coffin next to a six-foot dollar sign, said to be her favorite symbol.

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Also buried at the at Kensico Cemetery are baseball great Lou Gehrig and his wife Eleanor, “Network” screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky and fashion designer Henri Bendel. 

Tags: Valhalla , Ayn Rand , Paul Ryan , Kensico Cemetery