John Earle Alcorn was born on February 10, 1935 in Corona, New York. His parents were Herbert Melville Alcorn (1908–1992) and Mabel A. Comotto (1912–1996), who married on April 14, 1934 in Corona. Alcorn’s middle name was the first name of his paternal grandfather.
The 1940 United States Census counted Alcorn, his parents and maternal grandmother, Mary Comotto, in Corona at 35-14 98th Street. Alcorn’s father was a statistician with an insurance company. Alcorn’s father signed his World War II draft draft on October 16, 1940. His Corona address was the same. He was employed by the New York Life Insurance Company. Two years later, he enlisted in the National Guard on October 13, 1942. His address was 84 Lakeville Road in Great Neck, New York.
The 1940 United States Census counted Alcorn, his parents and maternal grandmother, Mary Comotto, in Corona at 35-14 98th Street. Alcorn’s father was a statistician with an insurance company. Alcorn’s father signed his World War II draft draft on October 16, 1940. His Corona address was the same. He was employed by the New York Life Insurance Company. Two years later, he enlisted in the National Guard on October 13, 1942. His address was 84 Lakeville Road in Great Neck, New York.
In the 1950 census, fifteen-year-old Alcorn, his parents, two brothers, Richard and Robert, and grandmother resided in North Hempstead, New York at 84 Bates Road. Alcorn was a student at Great Neck North High School where he was on the soccer team.
Alcorn continued his education at Cooper Union. Illustrators of Children’s Books, 1957–1966 said his instructors included Philip Grushkin, George Salter and Jerome Kuhl. Alcorn was on the art staff of the 1954–1955 Cable yearbook which said
Beneath John’s quiet and clean cut exterior breathes a creative spirit. He is lasting proof that a lad with a Coca-Cola facade can be more than a stereotyped artist. His designs as well as his personality contain a freshness and exuberance that have won him Phyllis as well as a good future.
Alcorn graduated in 1955. According to the Daily Times (Mamaroneck, New York), January 30, 1992, Alcorn married Phyllis Crescenzi on June 25, 1955 in New York City where three sons, Thomas, John and Stephen, were born; the fourth, Kenneth, in New York state. The newspaper said
American Artist, September 1958, “The Push Pin Studios”
... Mr. Alcorn was a member of the Push Pin Studio in Manhattan from 1955 to 1956. From 1957 to 1962, he was art director with CBS radio and television. ...
... He lived in New York City from 1955 to 1958, in Dobbs Ferry from 1958 to 1961, in Ossining from 1961 to 1971, in Florence, Italy, from 1971 to 1977 and in Cold Spring from 1977 to 1983, when he moved to Lyme, Conn[ecticut].
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Art Direction, October 1967
The Citizen Register, February 10, 1970, reported Alcorn’s medal from the Cooper Union Alumni Association.
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Jerome Snyder profiled Alcorn for the graphic design publication, Graphis, number 153, 1971.
Wood 2 (circa 1970)
Other Tragedies of Married Life (1970)
People & Other Aggravations (1971
People & Other Aggravations (1972)
How Did I Get to Be 40 & Other Atrocities (1976)
Love & Guilt & The Meaning of Life, Etc. (1979)
Alcorn’s love stamp was reported in The Day (New London, Connecticut), January 15, 1987.
Alcorn passed away on January 27, 1992. An obituary appeared in The Day, January 29.
John AlcornReports of his passing appeared in The New York Times, February 2, 1992 and The Hartford Courant, February 3, 1992.
Lyme—John Earle Alcorn, 56, of 243 Hamburg Cove, died Monday at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London.
He was born Feb. 10, 1935, in New York City, the son of Herbert and Mabel Comotto Alcorn of Essex.
Mr. Alcorn was a self-employed graphic artist.
He married the former Phyllis Crescenzi in 1955 in New York.
Besides his parents and his wife, he is survived by three sons, John H. Alcorn of Palermo, Italy, Stephen J. Alcorn of Cambridge, N.Y., and Kenneth E. Alcorn of Greenwich; two brothers, Richard Alcorn of New York City and Robert Alcorn of Wading River, Long Island, N.Y.; and four grandchildren.
He was predeceased by one son, Thomas J. Alcorn.
The funeral service and burial will be private. There are no calling hours.
Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington St., New London, is in charge of arrangements.
Donations in his memory may be directed to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Further Reading and Viewing
The Alcorn Studio & Gallery
John Alcorn: Evolution by Design, website and book
The Cooper Union Alumni Association
The Cooper Union, Coopermade: Fellini Film Titles
The Alcorn Studio & Gallery
John Alcorn: Evolution by Design, website and book
The Cooper Union Alumni Association
The Cooper Union, Coopermade: Fellini Film Titles
Print, The Daily Heller
1F mediaproject
Melt
Lubalin 100, Lubalin in Paris
Typography 35: The Annual of the Type Directors Club (2014)
The Push Pin Graphic: A Quarter Century of Innovative Design and Illustration (2004)
Third Book of Junior Authors
Something About the Author Volume 31; errata: Alcorn was not the subject in Newsweek, June 10, 1963. The article was about the painter, John Wagner Alcorn.
Wikipedia
(Next post on Monday: Delores Heilman, Letterer and Colorist)
1F mediaproject
Melt
Lubalin 100, Lubalin in Paris
Typography 35: The Annual of the Type Directors Club (2014)
The Push Pin Graphic: A Quarter Century of Innovative Design and Illustration (2004)
Third Book of Junior Authors
Something About the Author Volume 31; errata: Alcorn was not the subject in Newsweek, June 10, 1963. The article was about the painter, John Wagner Alcorn.
Wikipedia
(Next post on Monday: Delores Heilman, Letterer and Colorist)
