"A Bad Time for Fathers" <em>Woman's Day</em>
This short piece recounts Cormier's bittersweet feelings as his daughter prepares to leave for college in Boston. The father shares an awkward exchange with the daughter's boyfriend, who is also distraught that he will be far away from her. While the father looks down on the boyfriend as a clutz and annoyance, he also identifies with him and perceives him as a competitor for his daughter's affection.
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<em>Woman's Day</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
October 1970
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, 8.5 x 11 magazine paper
English
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"Dear Dad"
This magazine article tells the story of several fathers whose daughters have left home for college. Interviews with sets of fathers and daughters echo themes of tension between fathers and daughters particularly regarding emotional intimacy and communication as well as newfound understandings of one another. A portion of the article details Cormier's memory of the night before his daughter left for college and he both faced the reality that she was not a child and recalled scenes from her childhood. The article also mentions the communication and letter writing habits of fathers and how they differ from those of mothers. Mothers focus on daily life, grades, and health while fathers talk about boys and political or social issues of the day.
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<em>St. Anthony Messenger</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
September 1970
Annamary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, magazine
English
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"When It's Time To Say Goodbye" John Fitch IV Column
In this column Cormier writes about saying goodbye to his son after settling him in at the college dormitory. He ponders the differences between saying goodbye to a son than to a daughter, who allows for more sentimentality. He comes to realize that all of their lives were filled with goodbyes and that all has already been said. This column was later reprinted in the St. Anthony's Messenger in the "1177 Main St. USA" column in November 1972.
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<em>Fitchburg Sentinel</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
14 September 1972
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, 8.5x14
English
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