October 7, 2013
Roy Peterson, 1936-2013
Roy Peterson, a giant of Canadian editorial cartooning who won more National Newspaper Awards than any other journalist in more than 40 years with the
Vancouver Sun,
died September 30 after an incident the evening preceding in his West Vancouver home. He was 77 years old.
Peterson was born Roy Eric Peterson in 1936 in either Winnipeg (his wikipedia entry and initial obituaries) or Vancouver (at least one of the
Vancouver Sun profiles). He was a prolific artist as a child and student, following in the footsteps of three brothers, all of whom drew. Two of those brothers died in World War 2. Peterson graduated from secondary school in the Kitsilano neighborhood of Vancouver.
In addition to his long run at the
Sun, Peterson published in a variety of publications including
Time and
MacLean's. He settled in at the
Vancouver Sun in 1962, and wouldn't leave the paper until 2009. During that time he won seven National Newspaper Awards (the family claims eight). He was known for both the authority of his caricatures and his general bravery in working with unpopular subject matter.
Peterson's books widely published. His best-known work is likely
Drawn And Quartered, a series of cartoons done during the career of Pierre Trudeau. Another cartoon-driven collection was
The World According To Roy Peterson. Additionally, Peterson did an alphabet book with a Canadian culture focus. Peterson was also in demand to play a more traditional illustration role, at time working in partnership with the
Sun writer Alan Fotheringham, with whom he worked on assignments from
MacLean's in a partnership that lasted nearly three decades. Peterson's illustrations in Stanley Burke's 1973 effort
Frog Fables and Beaver Tales helped that book sell a quarter-million copies. A sequel,
The Day Of The Glorious Revolution, came out the next year but did not perform as well.
Peterson received the Order Of Canada in 2004, was the founding president of the Association of Canadian Editorial Cartoonista and according to the
Sun was the only Canadian to be president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists.
The cause of death was complications due to Parkinson's Disease. He had earlier been treated for prostate cancer, and suffered poor eyesight at the end of his career. It was apparently not his choice to leave the
Sun, yet another paper hit during that period by the desperate need for cutbacks.
A raft of Canadian cartoonists shared their personal memories of Peterson
here. He is remembered by his friend Bob Krieger
here.
Peterson is survived by two sons, three daughters and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret.
A celebration of Peterson's life is planned for October 11.
posted 12:20 am PST |
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