 A strong sense of community and a writing style intended for reading aloud have helped to cement Pittman's reputation as one of Newfoundland and Labrador's most cherished contemporary writers.Al Pittman died on August 26, 2001 at the age of sixty-one, after a lengthy illness.His work has been recognized with many awards, including a Borestone Mountain Poetry Award, The Canada Council Arts Award, the Stephen Leacock Centennial Award, and The Writer's Alliance Book Award for Poetry.