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Former AAEC president Mike Ritter passes at age 48

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GA Voice Art Director, former Association of American Editorial Cartoonists president and former East Valley Tribune and Scottsdale Tribune editorial cartoonist Mike Ritter has passed at the age of 48. His death was sudden and reportedly related to a recent surgery. (Correction: GA Voice Twitter account is stating that Mike died last night after emergency open heart surgery.)

From the GA Voice’s Facebook page.

It is with a heavy heart that we report that Mike Ritter died last night shortly after midnight. His death was sudden and devastating. A memorial will be planned for him in Atlanta and in the Pacific Northwest. Mike was a talented art director, but most importantly a kind and gentle soul and a great friend to those who knew him. Anyone who touched a GA Voice touched his creativity and craft. We will keep all updated as more specific plans become available. Thank you all for your kind wishes, thoughts, energy and prayers.

If you’re familiar with Mike’s work or him personally, he was superbly talented, creative, funny and always one of the funniest guys in the room. He worked for the Tribune papers in Arizona for 13 years until 2005 and syndicated through King Features. He was also president of the AAEC during the 2003-2004 year. Before his passing he was the art director for GA Voice, an alternative newspaper for Georgia LGBT community for several years. Mike was one of the few (only?) an openly gay staff cartoonists while he was with the Arizona Tribune papers.

I’ll update this post with additional information as it can be gathered. My condolences to his family and friends.

Mike, far right with Garry Trudeau during the 2004 AAEC Convention in Lexington KY.

Photo credit: Brian Fairrington

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Comments 3

  1. What sad, sad news. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

  2. The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health and The John Ritter Research Program in Aortic and Vascular Diseases extend their deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Ritter. We have been fans of both his editorial cartoons and his work for the LGBT community for years. We always mused about his possible family relation to John. Tragically, his untimely passing from aortic dissection may confirm this In the saddest way possible. Our hearts are broken for your loss.

    Mr. Ritter?s family may contact our genetic counselor at info@johnritterfoundation.org

  3. Very sad to hear this. I remember Mike as a fine young man, enthusiastic, affable and sincere. Always a joy to be around. My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
    (incidentally, in the above photo, that’s me on the left, chatting with Mike and Gary Trudeau)

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