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'Great Santini,' 'Prince of Tides' author Pat Conroy dies at 70

By Karen Butler
Image courtesy of Pat Conroy's website
Image courtesy of Pat Conroy's website

NEW YORK, March 5 (UPI) -- Renowned U.S. author Pat Conroy has died of pancreatic cancer. He was 70.

Todd Doughty -- vice president and executive director of publicity at Doubleday -- confirmed his Friday death to The New York Times.

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Born in Georgia, Conroy and his family moved around a lot due to his father's career in the military before settling in South Carolina.

The former high-school teacher and scribe is best known for his classic books The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline and The Prince of Tides -- all of which were adapted as films.

He is survived by his wife, the writer Cassandra King; daughters Megan and Susannah Ansley Conroy; sisters Kathy and Carol Ann; brothers, Jim, Tim and Mike; and seven grandchildren.

The home page of the author's website reads: "You my beloved readers know by now that I am fighting a hard battle. There are many of you sharing your own cancer battle stories. I will try not to disappoint you. Great love and gratitude for standing with me."

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