After she died at 8 on January 19 , 1980 , he chronicled her life in the memoir Alex : The Life of a Child .
He became a cystic - fibrosis advocate after his daughter Alexandra was diagnosed with the illness in 1972 .
After Alexandra died at 8 on January 19 , 1980 , he chronicled Alexandra 's life in the memoir Alex : The Life of a Child .
He became a cystic - fibrosis advocate after his daughter Alexandra was diagnosed with the illness in 1972 .