*ARCHIE COMICS GREAT JON D'AGOSTINO PASSES AWAY AT 81*
*
*
New York, NY (November 30, 2010): It is with deep regret and sorrow that
Archie Comics acknowledges the loss of longtime artist John P. "Jon"
D'Agostino Sr., of Ansonia, Connecticut who passed away on Sunday, November
28th after a battle with bone cancer. He was 81.
Jon D'Agostino was born in Cervinara, Italy on June 13, 1929, son of the
late Pasquale and Annunziata Pitanello D'Agostino. He was an American comic
book artist best known for his Archie Comics work. He attended the
Industrial School of Art in New York City. His first job was as the Head
Colorist for NYC's Timely Comics, the 1940s forerunner of Marvel Comics.
There he supervised a new young artist named Stan Goldberg. Stan would later
become one of Archie Comics' most prominent cartoonists.
His mentor early on was the well-known Stan Lee. For the next 62 years, he
did work for many comic book publishers. His credits include "My Little
Margie," "The Amazing Spider Man," "The Incredible Hulk," "G.I. Joe, A Real
American Hero," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Sabrina The Teenage Witch,"
and "Sonic The Hedgehog."
Jon married his first wife, Jean D'Onofrio D'Agostino, in 1955 and was
happily married for 37 years until her passing in 1992. In 1995, he married
his present wife, Vivi Testa D'Agostino. They lived in the Bronx for most of
their 15 years of marriage. He will be remembered for his wonderful sense of
humor, youthful attitude, and for being a loving & caring family man. Jon
was an avid hunter and fisherman and was a Civil War buff.
In June 1965, Managing Editor Richard Goldwater hired Jon away from the
competition to join Archie Comics, where he was affectionately known as
"Dag." He continued there for over 40 years; working up until his death. One
of his best-loved works at Archie Comics is "Jughead's Time Police."
"Jon was concerned about doing the best job possible. He would always be
available to help young artists improve their artwork and draw the Archie
cast of characters. He was very dedicated to his work and Archie Comics. I
had the privilege of working with Jon for over 40 years and considered him a
good friend. I will truly miss him," said Co-President and Editor-in-Chief
Victor Gorelick.
"Jon was a part of the Archie Comics family. He came into the offices every
week to work with other artists and continued to visit the offices even in
the recent weeks before his passing. I have had the pleasure of having many
great conversations with him in his time at Archie Comics. He will be
greatly missed," said Co-CEO Jon Goldwater.
Jon D'Agostino's last interior work will be published in December 2010 in
JUGHEAD DOUBLE DIGEST #166, as part of the four-part "Cyrano Jones" story.
Jon's work on covers will continue to be seen throughout 2011.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, John D'Agostino Jr.,
Peter D'Agostino and Pat (Stacey) D'Agostino; two sisters, Lucielle Felice
and Gina; two brothers, Peter and Ted D'Agostino; four grandchildren, John
D'Agostino III, Lance Corporal Marc D'Agostino, Nicholas D'Agostino and
Gabriella Grace D'Agostino; 2 great-grandchildren, Isabella and John
D'Agostino IV and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his
brothers Charles and William D'Agostino.
A wake will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 from 4-8 pm at the
SPINELLI-RICCIUTI/BEDNAR-OSIECKI FUNERAL HOME, at 62 Beaver Street in
Ansonia, Connecticut. Friends and relatives are also invited to attend his
funeral on Thursday Dec. 2, 2010 at 8:15am at the same location followed by
a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00 am at the Holy Rosary Church in Ansonia.
Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Shelton, Connecticut. To send an
online condolence, please visit www.spinellifuneralhome.com.
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DOWNLOAD IMAGES, HTML AND BBC CODES HERE
http://www.img.archiecomics.com/download/dag.zip
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*RIK OFFENBERGER | Public Relations Coordinator
Archie Comic Publications, Inc.
*325 Fayette Ave. | Mamaroneck, NY 10543
Office: (914) 381-5155 | Cell: (909) 996-3342
E-Mail: RikO@ArchieComics.com
Visit us @: www.archiecomics.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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