In loving memory from me, my wife Mary, my brother Fred, and his grandchildren Nicole and Mathew, we pay tribute to my father, Fred McLaren, an accomplished artist and writer. His proudest achievement was the publication of his newspaper comic "Thornsby," it was his dream come. The panel appeared in many papers across the nation, most notably Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia, and many more. Thornsby was a middle-aged man dealing with all the societal changes of the 1970s (inflation, politics, the younger generation, etc.) and dealing with getting older. I definitely see flashes of my dad in these captions...he had similarities to Thornsby not in looks but in his way of looking at the world changing around him. The cartoon ran from 1972-1975, with this image showing his final panel: my dad looking at Thornsby's tombstone.
Homer F. McLaren (known professionally and to family and friends as Fred McLaren), passed away on February 15, 2016 in Chicago at the age of 85. Army veteran of the Korean War. Alumnus of Chicago's American Academy of Art 1954-1957 under the tutelage of William Mosby. Commercial art director at RR Donnelly & Sons from the mid-60s to 1973. Syndicated newspaper cartoonist and creator of Thornsby from 1972-1975, published nationwide. Lifelong career as a free-lance artist and writer. Born in Springfield, IL, Fred lived in New Lenox, IL, London, Ontario, and in various suburbs of Detroit, MI before returning and retiring to his favorite city, Chicago. Admirer of the arts, collector of vintage memorabilia, and loyal Cubs fan. He leaves a large legacy of his art in all media, which his family and friends hope will be enjoyed for years to come.
Homer F. McLaren (known professionally and to family and friends as Fred McLaren), passed away on February 15, 2016 in Chicago at the age of 85. Army veteran of the Korean War. Alumnus of Chicago's American Academy of Art 1954-1957 under the tutelage of William Mosby. Commercial art director at RR Donnelly & Sons from the mid-60s to 1973. Syndicated newspaper cartoonist and creator of Thornsby from 1972-1975, published nationwide. Lifelong career as a free-lance artist and writer. Born in Springfield, IL, Fred lived in New Lenox, IL, London, Ontario, and in various suburbs of Detroit, MI before returning and retiring to his favorite city, Chicago. Admirer of the arts, collector of vintage memorabilia, and loyal Cubs fan. He leaves a large legacy of his art in all media, which his family and friends hope will be enjoyed for years to come.
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