Lessons from Frank McCourt learned well in Bay Shore

The auditorium of Bay Shore High School was standing room only. Among the guests lucky enough to score a special green ticket - promising a Bay Shore variation of the venerable Irish blessing, "Where the Sea Breezes Are Always At Your Back" - were the local monsignor and a group of Hibernians.

[mook]

pax requiem Frank McCourt --

[Annie]

I met Frank and Ellen just the once, on Frank's promotional tour in Australia a few years ago. It was a madly rushed tour. Frank telling us he sometimes didn't know where he was.. a different hotel almost every night... laughing at his story about locking himself outside the suite after getting up in the wee hours to head for the loo. It enabled a fascinating snapshot of this famous man and the literary world. Seemed everyone wanted a piece of him. Gentle, quietly spoken and generous.

[DrCritter]

His books have had me laughing out loud. Angela's Ashes was the first I read, then 'Tis. Most recently, I read Teacher Man. I heard a week or so ago that he was gravely ill. What a loss. He is, once again, with Angela. Rest in heavenly peace.