Interview with author Dudley Clendinen

Tags: senior citizens

In 1994, New York Times writer Dudley Clendinen’s mother sold her home and moved into an all-amenities-included geriatric apartment building: Canterbury Tower in Tampa. Canterbury’s residents include the wealthy, moderate income, Christian, Jewish, widowed and married. All of Canterbury’s residents had come together, at the average age of 86, in search of a last place to live and eventually die.

Dudley Clendinen was born and raised here in Tampa. His interest in this final phase of human life led him to spend 400 days and nights living at Canterbury, during which he became very familiar with the lives of its residents and staff. His book about that experience, A Place Called Canterbury, will be published next week. And he joins us now on the phone.

Clendinen will make several local appearances:

Sunday, May 4 at 2 p.m. at Canterbury Tower, 3501 Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33629

Monday, May 5 at noon at Friends of the Library, University Club, 38th Floor, 1 Tampa City Center, Tampa, FL

Monday, May 5 at Inkwood Books at 6 p.m., 216 S Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL 33609

Friday, May 9 at Selby Public Library at 10 a.m., 1331 First St., Sarasota, FL 34236

Friday, May 9 at Borders Books & Music at 7 p.m., 2683 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33759

Saturday, May 10 at Haslam's Books at 2 p.m., 2025 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33713