Storytelling Loses a Legend

On Saturday, August 16th, the storytelling world lost a dear friend, colleague, and elder in the passing of Ernest "Doc" McConnell. Doc died as a result of a stroke he suffered on the previous Sunday.

Doc was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer; he had undergone treatment throughout the summer and was responding well. Doc recently attended the National Storytelling Network's conference, where he presented a workshop and performed in their national concert. He had a wonderful time.

Doc attended the very first National Storytelling Festival and was featured the next year. Since then, Doc McConnell's Old-Time Medicine Show and the artful Doc himself, one of America's premier storytellers, have become legends of the Festival and America's storytelling revival. We will miss him greatly.

Please visit the Caring Bridge website, where Doc's daughter, Hannah, and wife, Guerry, have maintained a journal through the course of his illness. Messages for the family can be left there. Also below are the home addresses of Guerry and Hannah.

Photo courtesy of ©Fresh Air Photographics. All rights reserved.