Tomie’s sister, Judie, and her husband, David, celebrated their wedding anniversary on September 19, 2020. Fifty blissful years.
Their wedding reception was held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Meriden, CT. One of Tomie’s wall hangings was behind the head table.
Cousins Franny and Fuffy took this photo in 1970. Front, left to right: Maureen, Judie, David. Back: Tomie, Mom Flossie, Dad Joe. (Bob)
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Tomie’s sister Judie mentioned in her remarks during last week’s Zoom memorial celebration…
“Tomie also designed and constructed, with my dad, life-size Christmas decorations of the Nativity… for the lawn.”
Here’s a photo of the yard Nativity. Tomie labeled it “Circa 1950.” He would have been a teenager when he made this with his father. (Bob)
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Jarrett Krosoczka shared this photo and note.
“When I was just getting started in the early ‘00s, before I befriended Tomie, I’d visit schools and see framed drawings of Strega Nona, often dated from the early ‘80s. I would marvel at them. THE Tomie dePaola visited schools, too?!
“After meeting and becoming pals with Tomie in 2006, I would learn that these visits weren’t just indication of some sort of fame that he was bestowed. They were a marker of an incredible work ethic. He put hours and miles in to become ‘Tomie.’
“A few years back, I was visiting a school and the librarian, knowing Tomie and I were friends, opened her drawer and handed me this photo. She let me keep it, and it hangs in my studio to remind me of both my dear friend and what is possible with hustle.”
www.studiojjk.com (Bob)
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Marikka Tamura, an art director at Penguin, and author, posted this image on Instagram on Tuesday, September 15, with the following note: “My beloved Tomie dePaola would have been 86 today. His belly laugh still rings in my ears. He surprised me with this portrait on my birthday a few years ago. Miss him.”
I think it was a significant birthday. 29th, maybe.
I called the portrait “Marikka Lisa” after, well, Mona…
She wore her ADELITA scarf during the Zoom event. I heard that others wore scarves, too. A friend in Wisconsin cut zinnias in her garden and put them in a vase because Tomie loved zinnias.
I wore a clean dress shirt.
Here’s a link to an article in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY about the memorial celebration…
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Simon & Schuster brought back into print three books on Tuesday, September 15, all lovingly refreshed in design: GUESS WHO’S COMING TO SANTA’S FOR DINNER; HURRY, SANTA; and THE STORY OF THE THREE WISE KINGS.
Tomie had written a new text for the board book HURRY, SANTA, previously published as GET DRESSED, SANTA. (Bob)
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