Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt was an Irish-American author, Pulitzer Prize winner and school teacher who is perhaps best known for his memoir Angela's Ashes, a memoir about his difficult childhood in poverty-stricken Limerick, Ireland.

He passed away on July 19, 2009 at the age of 78 from metastatic melanoma.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/books/20mccourt.html?_r=1&hp

• 1996: Angela's Ashes
• 1999: 'Tis
• 2005: Teacher Man
• 2007: Angela and the Baby Jesus

After growing up in abject poverty in Limerick, Irelan (the source of his award-winning memoir), McCourt served in the United States Army during World War II and used the GI Bill to attend and graduate from New York University after his discharge. After receiving his masters degree in 1958 from Brooklyn College, he began teaching in the New York City public school system. In 1996 he published Angela's Ashes to much acclaim, going on to publish other successful memoirs including 1999's 'Tis.

• August 19, 1930: Born in New York

• 1934: Family returned to Ireland

• 1943: Quit School

• 1949: Returned to America

• 1958: Masters Degree from Brooklyn College | Taught in New York Public School System

• 1996: National Book Critics Circle Award - for Angela's Ashes

• 1997: Pulitzer Prize -for Angela's Ashes

• 2002: Received honorary degree from University of Western Ontario

• 1996: Angela's Ashes

• 1999: 'Tis

• 2005: Teacher Man

• 2007: Angela and the Baby Jesus