Paul B. Grillo Jr., 70, poet, artist and creative writing teacher

 EACH NIGHT on the corner of Hammer & Nails Sts.

the words of the screech owl bleed over the pavements

and echo down airshafts through the Milky Way.

This was the opening of a poem by Philadelphia poet, artist and teacher Paul Grillo about the death of his friend, Beat Generation poet Gregory Corso, in January 2001.

The poem, "Midnight on the Gethsemane Local," provides a look at Paul's creative vision, an often far-out blend of surrealism and reality, colored by the influences of rock 'n' roll, jazz, foreign films and the music of the street.

"The time is right to be brokenhearted," Paul wrote.

Paul B. Grillo Jr., a creative writing teacher who was devoted to encouraging young people to express their individual creativity free of the pressures of conformity, whose poetry and dreamlike collages were widely published and collected, died Aug. 28 after a long battle with cancer. He was 70 and lived in Lansdowne.

Paul, who grew up in Overbrook, spent many years in Montreal, his wife's hometown, and every summer since he was a child in Wildwood Crest, N.J., where the family had a home.

There, said his daughter Johanna Lawson, "he sat on the beach and wrote his poetry."

By his own account, published in BigBridge Press, Paul spent his early years shuttling between "mean street a cappella corner stores" and "dark star Jesuit study halls."

While the other kids were reading comic books, Paul was pondering Richard Avedon photos of supermodel China Machado "in late '50s Vogue, and falling in love with foreign films."

In fact, he said he decided to be a poet after seeing Marcel Camus' "Black Orpheus" in 1959. His first poems were published while he was still a teenager.

"He mentored me early in my career," said writer and editor E.A. Tremblay, a longtime friend. "He taught me far more about writing, editing and the magic of language than anyone else along the way. His own writing was full of surprises and astonishing moments."

Paul was born in Philadelphia to Paul Grillo Sr. and Rita Grillo. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Parochial School, St. Joseph's Preparatory School, and went on to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees in education and English literature at St. Joseph's University.

In 40 years as a teacher, Paul taught at Cardinal O'Hara High School, West Catholic High School for Boys and St. Joseph's Prep. He also taught at Delaware County Community College and Temple University.

He was academic adviser at Temple's Tyler School of Art before his retirement in 2005.

He taught his students to appreciate poetry, art and music, teaching such courses as "Poetry and Rock," wherein the works of Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan were discussed along with those of classical poets and writers.

"He touched the lives of many of Philadelphia's youth, teaching them to embrace who they were and to bravely become who they were meant to be," his daughter said.

His books of poetry include "Manhattan Spiritual," "Vibes of the Saints" and "Skin of Doubt." He often read his poetry to audiences in the Philadelphia area and New York City.

"He continued to write at least a poem a day, every day, and carry on his visual creations even as he battled a diagnosis of inoperable cancer," his daughter said.

"He had a great sense of humor," his daughter said. "He always encouraged his students to embrace who they were."

He was also a fine dancer, she said, often cutting the rug at the old Chez Vous nightclub in Philly and other venues at the shore.

Paul and his French-Canadian wife, the former Anita Fiset, were married in 1989. He previously was married to the late Joan Lapetina.

Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by two other daughters, Amy and Claire Grillo, and six grandchildren.

Services: Memorial Mass 10:30 a.m. Sept. 12 at the Church of St. Agatha and St. James, 38th and Chestnut streets. Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.