Public memorial to celebrate life of Pat Conroy
Friends and family members will gather for a public memorial celebrating the life of best-selling author and Lowcountry icon Pat Conroy next weekend.
Planned by the University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for the Arts and the city of Beaufort, the event is at 5 p.m. May 14 at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort.
The memorial will feature remarks and readings by Conroy’s widow, novelist Cassandra King; South Carolina historian Walter Edgar; USC Beaufort English professor and author Ellen Malphrus; New York Times best-selling novelist Patti Callahan Henry; and Conroy’s lifelong friend Bernie Schein.
In addition, Conroy’s friend and Citadel classmate John Warley will serve as the event’s master of ceremonies, and Marlena Smalls of the Hallelujah Singers will perform.
Participants should bring their own seating.
Leading up to the free event, the Historic Beaufort Foundation also will offer free admission to the “Pat Conroy at 70” exhibition from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 14, at the Verdier House, 801 Bay St., Beaufort.
Conroy died on March 4 at his home along Battery Creek.
Mindy Lucas: 843-706-8152, mlucas@islandpacket.com, @MindyatIPBG
Remembering Pat Conroy — 1945-2016
Beaufort's prince, Pat Conroy, goes home ☙ Conroy's wife organizes memorial event at Waterfront Park ☙ Pat Conroy’s last days ☙ State of Surprise: Pat Conroy’s love letter to South Carolina ☙ Pat Conroy literary festival dates set ☙ Pat Conroy in his high school years in Beaufort: A tribute from principal Bill Dufford ☙ In his honor, Conroy’s ‘losing season’ teammates revisit the moment at The Citadel ☙ Cartoonist Robert Ariail's tribute to Conroy ☙ Pat Conroy mourned by dignitaries, cadets and friends with ‘personal grief’ ☙ Ervena Faulkner: A meal to mourn Pat Conroy ☙ SC lawmakers honor Conroy following funeral ☙ Kathleen Parker: Conroy’s writing made him the sexiest man alive ☙ Lauderdale: I could hear an ‘amen’ at Pat Conroy’s funeral ☙ Why graduates of The Citadel, class of 2001, united to attend Conroy funeral ☙ Hundreds pay respects to Pat Conroy, family in Beaufort ☙ How 10 minutes with Pat Conroy changed my life ☙ Lauderdale: Pat Conroy expects all the shrimp in Beaufort to be pickled for his funeral (+recipe!) ☙ Op-ed: 'Let something legendary' come from Pat Conroy ☙ Keyserling: Pat Conroy bonded with other 'orphans' who landed in Beaufort ☙ Real people inspired characters in Conroy's books ☙ Lowcountry remembers Pat Conroy ☙ How Pat Conroy made Beaufort a destination ☙ Pat Conroy on the silver screen ☙ Model for 'Prince of Tides' tiger lived in Columbia ☙ Photos: Pat Conroy and Beaufort ☙ Books written by Pat Conroy ☙ Quotes from Pat Conroy's works
Stories from Conroy's friends and admirers: Conroy's closest friends: Grateful now for last year's celebration of author's life ☙ Close encounters with Pat Conroy ☙ Lowcountry remembers Pat Conroy ☙ Sallie Ann Robinson recalls press tour with Pat Conroy ☙ Great Santini tells principal 'my son (Pat Conroy) will not be a secretary' ☙ Retired book seller: Decades after Daufuskie, Pat Conroy 'knew every (student's) name' ☙ Conroy book buffs: When you read his books, 'you are there'
This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 4:15 PM with the headline "Public memorial to celebrate life of Pat Conroy."