2017 -- H 5587

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JAMES STEVENSON

     Introduced By: Representatives Filippi, Shekarchi, Morgan, O`Grady, and Giarrusso

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Mr. James Stevenson, a world renowned author and artist, passed away on

February 17, 2017, in Cos Cob, Connecticut, at the age of eighty-seven; and

     WHEREAS, James Stevenson was born in Manhattan, New York, on July 11, 1929, to

the late Harvey and Winifred Stevenson. He was raised in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. From

an early age, he exhibited a talent and passion for art and drawing. During his summers in high

school, he served as an office boy for the New Yorker, where he discovered that he had a desire

to create comedy through the use of art. After graduating from high school, he attended Yale

University, and shortly after graduating, he served our nation as a member of the United States

Marine Corps; and

     WHEREAS, After his honorable discharge from the military, Mr. Stevenson worked as a

reporter for Life Magazine until he was hired in 1956 by the New Yorker Magazine, where he

illustrated cartoons that made him famous across the globe. He was an enormously talented and

prolific artist who both wrote and illustrated articles, something few artists were able to do. In his

nearly fifty years at the New Yorker, Mr. Stevenson drew 1,988 cartoons for the magazine, often

taking pleasure in poking fun at the wealthy, pompous and privileged. He also designed seventy-

nine New Yorker covers; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his duties at the New Yorker, Mr. Stevenson produced

numerous children's books. He had a knack for not talking down to children, but instead, spoke

gently and truthfully to them. He even illustrated a children's book for Dr. Seuss in 1987, entitled

"I Am Not Going to Get Up Today!" He also wrote novels and produced an illustrated biography

of fellow New Yorker cartoonist, Frank Modell. Mr. Stevenson was always in high demand

thanks to the beauty of his art and his creative way of expressing a point of view. He was a true

renaissance man; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Stevenson was the loving husband of Josie Merck and the devoted

father of four daughters, Jane, Edwina, Emma and Sucie Stevenson, and five sons, Harvey,

Chuck, Jim, Walker and Peter Stevenson. He also leaves behind six grandchildren, a

stepdaughter, Oona Coy, a stepson, Morgan Coy, and four step-grandchildren. He was also the

husband of the late Jane Walker, until her passing in 1982; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby express its condolences on the passing of Mr. James Stevenson;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Josie Merck.

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