Tom Clancy, the author of  “The Hunt for Red October,” and “Patriot Games,” died last night in  Baltimore hospital at the age of according  to his publisher.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Clancy majored in English literature here at Loyola and graduated in 1969.  Though he hoped to join the army, he failed the eye exam necessary to participate in ROTC at Loyola.  After college, he became an insurance salesman but eventually dropped that career to write full time.  He did not publish his first book until the age of 39.  His love of the army is apparent in his novels about military science and detailed espionage.

His books have become blockbuster films such as Clear and Present Danger and The Patriot Games.   His most famous movie character, CIA agent Jack Ryan, has been played in films by Ben Affleck, Alec Baldwin, and Harrison Ford.  Chris Pine will next play the role in Jack Ryan: Shadow One, in theaters Christmas Day.

Clancy’s books have also become video games.  He co-founded the video game developer Red Storm Entertainment in 1996.  Games such as “Rainbow Six,” Ghost Recon” and “Splinter Cell” were hits across multiple video game platforms.

Forbes wrote “Clancy can produce a guaranteed bestseller just by writing two words: his name.”

A lifetime supporter of conservative policies and the Republican party, Clancy was a member of the National Rifle Association.  He was also part owner of the Baltimore Orioles.

Clancy’s advice to young writers in an AMC special was “You learn to write the same way you learn to play golf… You do it, and keep doing it until you get it right. A lot of people think something mystical happens to you, that maybe the muse kisses you on the ear. But writing isn’t divinely inspired – it’s hard work.”

Clancy was only 66 at the time of his death and the causes are unknown as of now.