Stuart McIntire, owner of the Facebook group, "Maryland Funnybook Fandom" has passed away. Stu was a font of knowledge about area cartoonists, and his passing will be a big loss to the community. His wife Amy has posted a note on his personal FB page that he died in hospice of stomach cancer.
I didn't know Stu well enough to write anything more personal, or even professional, but I hope to get someone who did write a formal obituary for ComicsDC. Stu wrote a few articles and comments for us here at ComicsDC.
With permission of his family, here's the note from his Facebook page:
We are heartbroken to share the news that Stuart McIntire died of stomach cancer on January 6, though we are grateful that he was comfortable at home and surrounded by most of his favorite people. He was only 65 years old.
Stu and his beloved wife Amy were inseparable since their first date over 45 years ago. He was the biggest fan of his three children and their partners: Katie & Vann Crucillo, Sarah & Joe Garifo, and Kevin McIntire. He got immense joy from being Papa to his five grandchildren: Molly, Steven, Asher, Logan, and Phoebe.
Stu loved sharing his love of Halloween, his comics collection, Universal classic monsters, the AFI Top 100, 20th-century American politics and ephemera, and making (and of course, eating) damn good barbecue. He was a gentle man: sentimental, nostalgic, playful, intelligent, creative, curious, kind, and brave.
Stu wants all of his family and friends to know that he loves you very much and you all touched his life in meaningful ways. He really enjoyed keeping up with all of you over the years.
The details of his memorial service are forthcoming. In the meantime, please give your dad a big hug and consider making a donation in Stuart’s honor to No Stomach for Cancer (nostomachforcancer.org) or the National MS Society (nationalmssociety.org).
One of the best aspects of owning Big Planet Comics was all of the wonderful people I got to meet and sometimes socialize with. Through my first partner, Gene Carpenter, I met Stuart, and his knowledge and enthusiasm for the medium was coupled with kindness and generosity of spirit that was magnetic. We attended Washington Nationals baseball games and comic conventions together, and his regular visits to the shop allowed for some deep (or at least long-winded) conversations on many topics, not always comics. I'm certain that he touched everyone he encountered, and I will miss him. --Joel Pollack
ReplyDelete