Celebration to remember poet Carol Connolly set for Dec. 11
Dec. 4—When poet Carol Connolly died in November 2020, we were locked down because of COVID and there was no way for her family to hold what her daughter, Katie Connolly Rice, described as "a Carol-style celebration" after the funeral.
Now it's time to remember Connolly, who was 85 when she passed away. Her family has invited everyone to the Town & Country Club, 300 N. Mississippi River Blvd., St. Paul, from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, to "have a cup of coffee" and remember the life of this woman who was St. Paul poet laureate, political activist, writing mentor, friend of hundreds of people from all walks of life.
Connolly was best known for her Readings by Writers series, which she presided over for more than 15 years at the University Club on Summit Avenue.
Her civic involvements include being the first woman, and the first person not of color, appointed to serve on and then become chair of the St. Paul Human Rights commission. She served three terms as Minnesota racing commissioner and was a founder and former co-chair of the Minnesota Women's Political Caucus, the first nonpartisan women's group of its kind in the country. She wrote columns for the Pioneer Press and Minnesota Law & Politics, as well as appearing in humor shows at Brave New Workshop. She was also a consultant to Gloria Steinem's Wonder Woman Foundation, which helped deserving women over 40.
Connolly's first poetry collection, "Payments Due," was published in 1985 and a revised edition came out in 1995. A winner of the Minnesota Book Awards Kay Sexton Award for outstanding contributions to the state's literary community, Connolly was also proud of theatrical productions in the Twin Cities and California based on her poetry.
