Comments on: A Remembrance of Frank McCourt

By: John Kwok

John Kwok — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:07:56 +0000

‘Tis amazing Liz. Your poignant, eloquent, remarks remind me so much of what I had enjoyed for two wonderful semesters during my junior year at Stuy
(And I might add that his class was a wonderful respite from my science and mathematics classes, even as my world back then was devoted almost exclusively to science.). Well remembered and well said, my fellow alumnnus.

John Kwok ’78

By: Karyn Seroussi

Karyn Seroussi — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:13:27 +0000

Liz, that was stunningly written – thank you.

By: Amstutz

Amstutz — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:12:08 +0000

A nice article. Its great to read about McCourt from a former student’s perspective, warts and all. As an aside, I always find it a bit annoying when people write about their high school/college days and have to mention they were in the “intellectual elite”. It always smacks of trying too hard to show how smart you are.

By: Farah Chandu

Farah Chandu — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:05:48 +0000

Thank you Liz. And looking at your picture, I have to tell you that you look even *better* now than you did when we were teens.

You touched on something which has been on my mind as these countless accolades and news articles pour in about his death, and that is that Mr. M was *ours* first before he belonged to the world. We knew who he was and what he meant long before anyone else claimed him as theirs, and dangit, I’m a little territorial!

By: Justin OBrien '83

Justin OBrien '83 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:17:33 +0000

Liz;
Beautiful remembrance – brings back many memories of his class.

By: Dominic C

Dominic C — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:56:07 +0000

I didn’t take a class with Frank McCourt because I’d heard that all he did was tell stories in class. (I had fabulous experiences with R’Lene Dahlberg and Mr. Marks.) I started reading Teacher Man this week. In the book, he wavers between humility (students took his class because he was an easy grader) and pride (teaching successes are apparent despite his self-criticism). Your essay, Elizabeth, helps me to understand McCourt’s value as a creative writing teacher. Although I remain enormously happy with the fact that I studied with Dahlberg and Marks, I might have missed something while at Stuyvesant.

By: Jonathan G

Jonathan G — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:28:48 +0000

This brought back beautiful memories Elizabeth. Frank McCourt made an art form out of snubbing the establishment; it remains as resonant for me today as it was then. (Question Authority is one of my favorite edicts). When I read this and think back on my own experience, I realize how very present he was for me, for so many of us. I miss him.

By: Dinty

Dinty — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:32:31 +0000

Feckin’ lovely, it is. Thanks for the reminiscence.