CF Stearns Speaker Series to host ‘Weird Florida’ author

Florida native and prolific author Eliot Kleinberg will share a Florida-centric look back at World War II at the College of Central Florida Stearns Speaker Series on Monday, Sept 22.

“War in Paradise: World War II in Florida” will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the Stearns Learning Resources Center on the Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, and the community is invited to this free event.

The author of the original “Weird Florida” books spent nearly a half-century reporting on local news and writing about Florida history and now lectures on Florida topics. Kleinberg produced two history columns and wrote 14 books – plus co-writing and contributing to several more – all about Florida.

In “War in Paradise: World War II in Florida,” he will offer an up-close-and-personal look at the war that seemed a world away, with stories of how U-boat sinkings off Florida’s coast and the state’s sprawling military bases would change a small corner of America into one of its most populous states.

“The annual speaker series brings distinguished Americans to the CF Ocala Campus, providing an opportunity for both the college community and citizens from Marion County and the surrounding areas to learn from and meet these individuals,” said Cliff Stearns, who established the Friends of Cliff Stearns Endowed Chair through a gift to the CF Foundation in December 2020. The series aims to bring national and regional speakers on history, political science and technology to CF to benefit both students and the community.

Registration is encouraged at CF.edu/Stearns.

Topics and concepts presented at this event are for discussion purposes only and are not intended to espouse, promote, advance, inculcate, or compel individuals to believe the topics or concepts presented therein. Nor do they constitute endorsement of such topics or concepts by the College of Central Florida, its Board of Trustees, or any of their officers, employees, or agents.