Frank McCourt Memorium

"F. Scott Fitzgerald said there are no second acts in American lives. I think
I've proven him wrong. And all because I refused to settle for a one-act
existence, the 30 years I taught English in various New York City high schools."
- Frank McCourt

Mr. Frank McCourt passed away yesterday, Sunday July 19, 2009, at the age of 78 in a Manhattan hospice, confirmed his brother Malachy McCourt. Mr. McCourt certainly did not live a one act life.

Born in Brooklyn in 1931, his family returned to Limerick, Ireland to find work. His father, an alcoholic, had a difficult time finding and maintaining work. At the age of 11 his father moved away and left his mother and siblings to fend for themselves. 8 years later Frank McCourt returned to New York City working various odd jobs and eventually was drafted during the Korean War. After his military deployment he enrolled at NYU to study English. Upon graduation he taught English at various schools with New York City's Board of Education.

Frank McCourt dreamed to write a book but it was not until 30 years later after retiring from teaching that this dream became a reality. He won the Pulitzer Prize and Nation Book Award in literature using his early life experiences to write the book "Angela Ashes". He followed this with the book "Tis" based on his personal struggles to return to the United States and find a place for himself as an Irish-American in New York City.

I was introduced to Frank McCourt through my mom. She has always loved Irish-American literature and found his story telling style accessible. We watched the movie "Angela's Ashes "based on his bestselling book together. At that point I had not read the book but decided to read it immediately following this 1999 hit. Several years later as a resident of Brooklyn, I found a copy of Frank McCourt's book "Tis" at Housing Works's Bookstore Cafe in NYC. "Tis" filled in the gaps where "Angela's ashes" left off. My mother was right, Frank McCourt had a way of weaving beautiful stories out of life's dingy corners and fluoresent lights. So here's to you Mr. Frank McCourt for living and sharing your second act with the world!