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I was saddened to learn via a Facebook post from Tom Heintjes that cartoonist Bill Kresse had died. I met Bill when I was a sophomore attending Brooklyn’s South Shore High School. I was probably around 16 years old, and part of a group of students interested in journalism who toured the New York Daily News.
Here’s what Bill looked like around that time, from when I met up with him the following year at a 75th anniversary celebration of the comic strip held in Central Park.
I no longer remember whether Bill ran the tour or was just one of the many people we met along the way, but for some reason, something clicked with him, me and fellow student Eric Shalit. That tour was the beginning of a relationship that led to Eric and me visiting Bill and his wife Lorraine at their home, my attendance at many National Cartoonist Society events, plus Bill providing art and advice when Eric and I put together an underground magazine at our school.
Bill, who was born on June 17, 1933, inked animation cels at Terrytoons immediately after high school, was a prolific “good girl” artist of the ’50s, and drew for the Archie’s Madhouse comic. I didn’t know any of that at the time, though. I only knew him as the artist and co-creator of Super Duper, a fun comic strip about a bumbling building superintendent which ran in the Daily News for five years.
As you can see, when I was about to graduate the high school that had brought us together and head off to SUNY Buffalo, both Bill and Super Duper wished me well.
Bill was always generous with his time, more than the precocious teens we were at the time deserved. When we started an alternative magazine at our school, he encouraged us and even contributed a caricature. I’m sure you can guess which of the kids below is Eric and which is me …
Thanks to Bill, I got an insider’s look at comics strips before I moved from being a fan to a comics professional. As his guest, I attended several Ruben Awards banquets (both alone as a young teen fan, and then later in the company of my wife when we both worked at Marvel Comics), where I met the likes of Pat Oliphant, Gary Trudeau, Mort Walker, Curt Swan, and Johnny Hart. He brought me to other National Cartoonist Society events, such as the Halloween party at which I met Otto Soglow … and Margaret Hamilton!
He was warm, and funny, and always kind and helpful to me.
Why?
He was one of the good guys.
When I lived in New York, I’d frequently pop by the 42nd Street headquarters of the Daily News to catch up, but I’m embarrassed to say that we’d been out of touch in recent years. I’ve often thought of him in a vague “gee, I wonder how he’s doing, I should get back in touch” kind of way … but you know how those things go. I waited too long, and now it’s too late.
With that in mind, it might seem hypocritical to say that I’ll miss him, considering how long it’s been since we last saw each other. But I do miss him. He was an important part of my life, and I’m extremely sad that he’s gone.
Hi Scott – Just 10 minutes ago I finished telling a friend a story about Bill, and all that he did for me nearly 40 years ago back when I was a 12 year old boy hoping to one day be a cartoonist. When that friend said “you have to get in touch with him and tell him about the influence he had on you!” I just learned via google that Bill passed away 2 weeks ago. I’m bummed I missed the chance to connect with him.
Back around 1974-76 after writing Bill a letter upon seeing a mention of him in the paper, I visited Bill at the Daily News, and later at his home in Jackson Heights, and I remember he mentioned that he had “other young friends” like me. He mentioned one person in particular as being really talented who was actually publishing stuff at school — he had to be talking about you.
He and I corresponded by mail quite a few times. I loved the way he illustrated the envelopes with pictures of Super Duper, plunger in hand, delivering an envelope via “Special Delivery”. I really regret losing those letters over the years. He was a good and generous man. I’m glad to hear that you and I have that connection, and that you are sharing your experience of him with others.
I’m sorry you had to learn about Bill’s passing just at the moment you were going to reach out. But I’m glad to hear you had an experience similar to mine. He was a great guy to many of us, and he should be remembered.
I am saddened to learn of the passing of Bill Kresse. I was his paperboy for the old Long Island. Press. I remember when I asked him if he was related to the cartooniist who drew Super. Duper? He invited me into his apt. In Jackson. Heights and proceeded to show me his studio where his creative genius was put to work. I remember how impressed I was when he showed me how Super Duper came to “llife”. He told me if I ever had an interest or desire to learn how to draw he would be more than happy to teach me. I always remembered his kindness. I would like to extend my condolences to Mr.Kresses family.
I was a cartoonist and an art director in Manhatten for many years. I would see Bill and his wife and the family dog from was I was 17 to about 30. I would bring my current girl that I was with and go to dinner with his wife Lorriane. He helped me stay focused to learn to draw with detail. I tried to become syndicated but after 3 times I gave it up. He said to send all my work to magazines to see if they would sell.
He would always answer the phone when I called or his wife would. I have been to his home many times and would marvel at his art studio. In fact he came to my wedding in 2000, it was great to see him.
I’ll miss his laugh and his kind words. I spoke to him in December when he was in the hospital and a few weeks later when he got out. I thought all was well, i guess I was wrong. I will call his wife to give my repects.
Yes, Bill was a wonderful guy. I’m so glad this post has allowed me to learn of so many others whom, like you, his life had touched.
I’m out of the loop concerning news about dome of my favorite ol’ cartoonists so after reading of the passing of Brad Anderson, I thought of Bill Kresse. Bill will always be remembered by me as one of the people who recognized and encouraged my artistic ability at a very early age. I, like you Scott, met Bill at the Daily News after my older brother and I made a call and asked to meet him. What a wonderful person. My parents had him and Lorraine over for dinner in Brooklyn a couple of times. He would invite me and my brother ,along with our mom and dad, to the Reuben Awards Dinner at The Plaza where I was able to meet people I idolized. Scott, I believe the photo of you and Margaret Hamilton (WWW) is from one of those dinners…I got her autograph and yours that evening! Bill was instrumental in my meeting Burne Hogarth who later wrote a letter of recommendation for me to attend SVA. It looks like Bill was truly a person who loved people and went the extra step of helping them when he could. I think he and Lorraine had many children in all of us!
Yes, Bill and Lorrine were amazing. They welcomed and encouraged many of us.
I’m stunned that out of all the greats you’d find at these events, you’d bother to get MY autograph. I’m a VERY small fish, and was even smaller back then.
The photo with Margaret Hamilton wasn’t taken at one of the Rueben Awards banquets, but rather at a Halloween event the NCS was hosting which my wife and I recall taking place upstairs in a private room at Gallagher’s Steakhouse. Does that bring back any memories?
When I was around 12 or 13 I began corresponding with Bill, as an aspiring cartoonist. He was incredibly generous with his time, and sent me numerous handwritten letters over the years, along with drawings and original Duper strips. He even arranged for me to attend several NCS Annual Gala Dinners at the Plaza Hotel, where I met just about every famous cartoonist alive. Alas, as I got a little older, my interest in drawing lessened, and ultimately I want to Law School and lost contact with Bill. About 2 1/2 years ago, I thought about him, and dialed information for his number which I obtained. I spoke with an elderly gentlemen whose voice was a bit weak and raspy, but one I still recognized. He only vaguely remembered me, something that was crushing at the time. However, upon seeing how many budding cartoonists ne nurtured as indicated by these messages, its entirely clear that he wouldnt remember just one. I still doodle, draw inappropriate cartoons and caricatures of friends, and even collect the work of illustrators I have followed and admired. Clearly, I wish I did what they did, although I would never have been as good as any of them. Bill, I cannot convey how thankful I am for your support and encouragement. By the way, if anyone knows Joe Petruccio, another Kresse protege, I have been trying to locate a phone number for him for years, as he only lives about 15 miles from me. Joe, if you see this, please give me a call and we can reminisce about Bill. Best to all. Eddie Kologi, Brielle NJ (732) 221-0606.
I continue to be amazed by the size of the Bill Kresse army out there!
JIm Linderman
Oh, I am so sorry to read this…I was a big fan of his work, and after he happened upon my post about him, he sent me a package of articles, notes and such. I had collected a few original panels he drew for the Humorama digests in the 1950s and 1960s and treasure them still. One of the more talented cartoonists of the era, and I’ll miss him much.
Jim Linderman Vintage Sleaze the Blog