I'm sad to report that legendary cartoonist Al Ross has passed away. He was 100 years old.
I received these two brief messages from Al Ross's son, Arlen:
— My father, Al Ross, passed away today at the age of 100 years young! He was simply the greatest, and will always live on through his art, and his thousands of fans and his offspring! The world was a far better place with him, and now is still the better for it! Love you Dad!
— My father Al Ross, passed away today at the age of 100. He was even a greater painter and fine artist than he was a cartoonist, if that can be possible! Gone is the greatest there ever was!!! Long live my Dad, Al Ross!
Al Ross was one of four cartooning Roth brothers. The other three brothers, all deceased, published cartoons under the names Ben Roth, Salo and Irv Roir. In his heyday, Al Ross's gag cartoons appeared extensively in The New Yorker and in just about every other national or international cartoon-oriented publication.
In the past few years I've written several pieces here about Al and the other cartooning Roth brothers, and I even have several photos up, some of them pretty old. You can find all the material by clicking on "Eli's Corner" in the right-hand column. Al was also featured in my "We All Have to Start Somewhere Department" (No. 16). And in addition, you can find several very heart-warming "comments" under some of the postings, notes that came in over the years from the Roth family, friends and neighbors.
Rest in peace, Al Ross.
Al Ross at his 100th Birthday Party.