'Memento Morrie' Book Talk + Signing with Heather Pillar

The Museum School at the Cape Cod Museum of Art presents:

'Memento Morrie' Book Talk + Signing with Heather Pillar

Monday, July 22, from 1:00 - 2:00 pm.

Member $12 / Non-Member $20, includes Museum Admission

In 1995, photographer and teacher Heather Pillar collaborated with Morrie Schwartz to document Morrie during the last six months of his life struggling with ALS. The project illustrates Morrie's philosophies about death and dying through photographs Pillar made of him interacting with family, friends, and caregivers. Over a quarter-century later, Morrie's wisdom resonates with people around the world largely due to the best-selling memoir: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. Morrie's warmth and vitality comes through in each photograph to illustrate love and loss and the power of community. Morrie taught people, including Heather - how to live fulfilling lives with love. “It is by facing fears of death that we learn how to live.” Heather Pillar was a news and documentary photographer before teaching in seven countries over four continents in 25 years. Recently repatriated, Heather’s exploration of her negatives expands the original story of Morrie’s philosophies in a visual format. 

Morrie’s former student Mitch Albom visited Morrie for fourteen Tuesdays and wrote one of the best-selling memoirs of all time:  Tuesdays with Morrie. The book has sold twenty million copies worldwide and has been made into a movie.

About the book:

"Memento Morrie: Images of Love and Loss" published by Daylight Books will be available for purchase.  It includes 44 duotones and four outstanding essays from professionals in their own fields plus short stories from interviews with Morrie’s friends and family.  Some images are paired with Morrie’s now famous aphorisms giving imagery to the bittersweet themes of end-of- life: building a caring community; friends; family; caregiving; self-care; spirituality; and death and beyond.

Heather Pillar, photographer and teacher, has lived, taught and photographed in seven countries over four continents during the past 25 years.  Her personal and collaborative photographic projects reveal her ongoing interest in women, girls' education, and aging.

In 1995, Heather collaborated with Morrie Schwartz during the last six months as he battled ALS. Her first monograph, Memento Morrie:  Images of Love and Loss (Daylight Books, 2024) illustrates Morrie's philosophies through photographs of him interacting with family, friends, and caregivers and building community. Over a quarter-century later, Morrie's wisdom resonates with people around the world due to the best-selling memoir: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. Morrie taught people, including Heather - how to live fulfilling lives with love. “It is by facing fears of death that we learn how to live.”

Heather's photographs have been exhibited internationally as well as published in numerous newspapers and magazines such as People Magazine and The Boston Globe;  books include The Wisdom of Morrie, Tuesdays with Morrie and Morrie:  In His Own Words. Her work has also appeared on television (CBS Sunday Morning, Today Show) and online – NPR, Next Avenue (AARP) and on PBS’s Inside E Street.

Image credit: Mitch Albom with Morrie on Tuesday, October 3, 1995.  © Heather Pillar

Cancellation Policy: The Cape Cod Museum of Art must be notified 1 week prior for a refund.