Memento Morrie with photographer Heather Pillar

Mitch Albom with Morrie on Tuesday October 3, 1995 © Heather Pillar

The Vineyard Haven Public Library is pleased to welcome photographer and teacher Heather Pillar for a presentation about her photographic collaboration with Morrie Schwartz, subject of the best-selling memoir “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom. This event will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 19th, at the Vineyard Haven Public Library, located at 200 Main Street in Vineyard Haven. Free and open to the public, no registration required.

In 1995, 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, 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.” 

"Memento Morrie: Images of Love and Loss" published by Daylight Books will be available for purchase before and after the talk. The book 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. Heather's photographs have been exhibited internationally as well as published in numerous newspapers and magazines, such as People Magazine and The Boston Globe, and in the books “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], PBS’s Inside E Street). She is the author of “Memento Morrie: Images of Love and Loss” (Daylight Books, July 2024).

For more information, please contact the library at vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org or (508) 696-4211.