May 24, 2026
My New Book Is Here
I am pleased to report that The Peregrine Falcon from Schiffer Books -- the folks who did such a beautiful…
Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
June 5, 2017
Today Is the Centennial of My Dad’s Birth
Not quite an ideal topic for a nature blog, but I'll try to make it work because I did not want June 5, 2017, to pass without noting it.
On this day in 1917, my father was born in Penn Yan, N.Y.
He served in the Army during World War II and fought across Europe beginning just after D-Day.
He was a captain in Army Intelligence and narrowly escaped death on Christmas Eve, 1944, when his position was overrun by the Germans during the Battle of Bulge.
After the war, he married my mom, went to art school in Philadelphia, had two sons and eventually became a freelance commercial artist.
He drew the Bald Eagle above as part of an advertisement for Aviation Weekly.
It's his only illustration of a bird, as far as I know.
He also painted the water-color of Barnegat Light pictured at right. He died in 1959. Great man.
7 comments
-
Impressive!!
-
Wondering if our fathers were together at the Battle of the Bulge though mine was army infantry.
So impressed with your father’s artwork and glad you shared his birthplace since nearby Keuka is a familiar happy spot in my family’s history.
Thank you. -
Wow Jim. INow I know where your talented genes come from. What a great lbut way to short life he had. My father also passed young at age 45 and was a Sargent during WWII and served in France as a radio communications man. Thank you for sharing your fathers life with us. I have to google Penn Yan, NY,,interesting name for a town. , I seriously expected it to say Penn Yan, China. mary
-
What a nice tribute Jim. So sad you lost him so early in life. I will say, I haven’t heard the term Commercial artist since art school! It always brings me to the pre-computer days when artist actually drew for ad purposes. Imagine.
Perhaps he is in heaven painting the most stunning scenes ever with your mom sitting near him with a highball in her hand, lol I have no idea where that came from! -
I saw some of your Dad’s artwork when I was visiting Your brother’s wife, Judy. He was an outstanding artist.
-
I always enjoy all of your stories but this one is particularly interesting. I also have artists in my family. My cousin, Michael Sabanosh, has been a book illustrator and painter for many years.
-
We are happy you didn’t let this day go by without mentioning your dad and sharing it with us.
Leave your comment
Related Post
May 24, 2026
A Palisades Peregrine Pastel
I met Laura Sullivan at a recent book talk, and she shared this pastel painting of a peregrine at…
May 15, 2026
A Memorable Passaic River Flight
Ever since I worked for the former Meadowlands Commission, I’ve flown with LightHawk’s amazing group of volunteer pilots who donate…
May 5, 2026
Happy Sinko de Mayo
Oldie but goodie, and getting better with age… I see that I posted it for the first time 15 years…
7 comments
Deedee
Impressive!!
Anne
Wondering if our fathers were together at the Battle of the Bulge though mine was army infantry.
So impressed with your father’s artwork and glad you shared his birthplace since nearby Keuka is a familiar happy spot in my family’s history.
Thank you.
Mary
Wow Jim. INow I know where your talented genes come from. What a great lbut way to short life he had. My father also passed young at age 45 and was a Sargent during WWII and served in France as a radio communications man. Thank you for sharing your fathers life with us. I have to google Penn Yan, NY,,interesting name for a town. , I seriously expected it to say Penn Yan, China. mary
Mimi.sabatino@gmail.com
What a nice tribute Jim. So sad you lost him so early in life. I will say, I haven’t heard the term Commercial artist since art school! It always brings me to the pre-computer days when artist actually drew for ad purposes. Imagine.
Perhaps he is in heaven painting the most stunning scenes ever with your mom sitting near him with a highball in her hand, lol I have no idea where that came from!
Linda Siegrist
I saw some of your Dad’s artwork when I was visiting Your brother’s wife, Judy. He was an outstanding artist.
Marianne Herrmann
I always enjoy all of your stories but this one is particularly interesting. I also have artists in my family. My cousin, Michael Sabanosh, has been a book illustrator and painter for many years.
Sally
We are happy you didn’t let this day go by without mentioning your dad and sharing it with us.