Action Against Hunger Mourns Loss of Author & Humanitarian Frank McCourt

Action Against Hunger mourns the passing of Pulitzer Prize-winning author, humanitarian, and friend Frank McCourt, who died in New York City on Sunday. McCourt, 78, turned his impoverished childhood in Limerick, Ireland into the extraordinarily popular memoir Angela’s Ashes, which vividly depicts his family’s daily struggle for food and the loss of three young siblings to malnutrition.

He received the Action Against Hunger Humanitarian Award in 2002 for bringing a strikingly honest and heartfelt portrayal of hunger to a mass audience. McCourt collaborated with Action Against Hunger over the past decade in his capacity as advisor, and even hosted a video, shown below, chronicling ACF’s work in the field.

"Through his bracing prose and deep devotion to humanitarian causes, Frank McCourt exposed millions of people to the daily reality of hunger," said Nan Dale, Executive Director of Action Against Hunger. “His ability to portray hunger’s cruelty in such a personal way is virtually unrivaled."

A teacher in the New York City public school system for nearly 30 years, McCourt is also the author of the best-sellers Tis (1999) and Teacher Man (2005).

His compassion, humanity, and wit will be greatly missed.