Tomie dePaola
Tomie dePaola, at the age of 85 died from a fall, according to a news post by Roger Sutton, editor at Horn Book Magazine; and Elizabeth Law, dePaola’s long time publisher at Holiday House.
Tomie dePaola is the author/illustrator of many beloved children’s books including: Strega Nona, Helga’s Dowry and more than 250 more. Tomie dePaola was born on September 15, 1934 in Meriden, Connecticut where he grew up with an older brother and two younger sisters, who appeared with him in his successful biographical series, 26 Fairmount Avenue. His mother was Irish and father Italian. His mother loved books and spent many hours reading aloud to her children. He knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a children’s book illustrator. He attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and earned a masters of fine arts from California College of Arts and Crafts. For a time, he taught art at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire. For many years he lived and worked in a 1830s, 13 room house and barn in Wilmot Flats — a picturesque village down the road from New London.
He studied at Pratt along-side of Arnold and Anita Lobel; and was neighbors with Wally Tripp and Trina Schart Hyman. All the events of dePaola’s life have had a significant effect on his art and writing. At one time dePaola joined. Monastery with the intention of becoming a brother. He left the monastery before taking his final vows but throughout his career he created many works of art for Catholic churches and monasteries in the New England area. Several of his book have religious themes. One of his most popular, Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi(Holiday House, 1992) was recently rereleased as Brother Francis of Assisi (Ignatius Press, 2020).
For many years dePaola’s companion and assistant has been Robert Hechtel who helped him in all aspects of his career.
In a 2017 interview with Maggie Reagan for Booklist Online, dePaola said, “My days are busier than they’ve ever been, and I’m 84. But I’m very pleased that this is true. I’ve had a long career, and I hope it keeps on going for more years, because I love the work that I’m doing now. “ (http://bit.ly/talkingwithtomie).
And all of his readers wish there were more years … but his work will live on, and so will Strega Nona, Helga and the dozens of other characters he created: Charlie, Andy, Bill and Pete. And as for Tomie - he is off on the wing of a whitebird. RIP
The obituary from Associated press
And all of his readers wish there were more years … but his work will live on, and so will Strega Nona, Helga and the dozens of other characters he created: Charlie, Andy, Bill and Pete. And as for Tomie - he is off on the wing of a whitebird. RIP
The obituary from Associated press
'Strega Nona' author Tomie dePaola is dead at age 85 By KATHY McCORMACK Associated Press Mar 30, 2020 can be found online at in the MuskogeePhoenix News which was first to get the information online.
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For more information about Tomie dePaola visit his website at http://www.tomie.com and search the net for information about YOUR favorite dePaola books - these are some of mine.
For my archival information about Tomie dePaola from my resources, locate my 1988 title An Author a Month (for Pennies) (Libraries Unlimited, o.p.) but available in many libraries.Research material related to Tomie dePaola is part of the Sharron L. McElmeel papers in the University of Iowa special collections. Identifier: msc0991. http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc
I am beyond sadness! I loved his books! We read his books when we arrived in the States more than 30 years ago. My children who spoke no english, loved, loved the simplicity of the message through the books, the illustrations and the moral. What a terrible loss!
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