Famous Shark Tombstone in Pittsburgh
Who knew that instead of a mundane rectangular stone, you could have a custom shark tombstone? One man decided to make this a reality and liven up his final resting place. Today, people all over the world come to walk the ground and see this unique shark tombstone.
Shark Tombstone Cemetery
In Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, lie over 100,000 different tombstones, but none as jaw-dropping as Lester C. Madden’s. The 300-acre cemetery is one of the largest and oldest in Pittsburgh and the sixth-oldest rural cemetery in the whole of the United States. Since 1844, it has become home to many famous and notable artists, politicians, activists, writers, and veterans. But unlike their simple tombstones, Lester C. Madden’s stands out and will forever be remembered.
Madden’s tombstone is not flat, beveled, slanted, or a heart; instead, it is a carved shark head. The jawsome tomb has a unique shape, that of a shark’s head. The entire image comes from the 1975 Jaws movie poster. This is the scene where the shark has its mouth open and is ready to attack its first victim. On the tomb is just his name, date of birth, and date of death.
Jaws Tombstone Superfan
Why would someone want a shark head tombstone? Lester C. Madden considered himself a Jaws superfan. It is said that he had seen the movie 16 times and wanted to showcase his love for the movie in an eternal way. Many of us shark lovers would say that he found the perfect way to do it! Lester died June 7, 1983, a month short of the release of the 3rd Jaws movie. Many would say this was a good thing since the movie was terrible and received 3.7/10 on IMDb.
Lester C. Madden was born 23rd of September, 1931, and was a Korean War veteran. While we don’t know a lot about the man, his love for the Jaws movies is evident. How many other Jaws superfans have their own Jaws headstone? None, other than Mr. Madden!
If you would like to see this impressive shark tombstone, you can visit the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during its open hours. The cemetery offers guided tours of the grounds, but you can also find the tombstone on your own in Section 26.
