Monday, May 5, 2025

Comics: Frank Vina, Unknown Letterer

Frank Joseph Vina was born on January 30, 1929, in New York, New York, according to the New York, New York Birth Index at Ancestry.com.

The 1930 United States Census said Vina was the only child of Joe, an iron worker, and Bertha. His father was born in Spain and his mother in Venezuela. They were Manhattan residents at 230 114 Street. 


At some point Vina and his mother traveled to Venezuela. Aboard the steamship Oranje Nassau, they returned from La Guaira, Venezuela to New York on April 9, 1934. 



The 1940 census recorded the Vinas in Manhattan at 521 West 134th Street. Information about Vina’s education and art training has not been found.

Vina’s parents were on the previous sheet

On February 10, 1950, Vina and Elizabeth M. Davila obtained a Manhattan marriage license. 

Two months later the newlyweds were counted in the 1950 census. They lived in Manhattan at 701 West 177th Street. Vina’s occupation was “Letterer, Funny Books” in the “Comic Books” industry. Vina is not in Who’s Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999 or the Grand Comics Database.


The Public Records Index at Ancestry.com said Vina resided in East Elmhurst, New York for several years and apparently retired to Sarasota, Florida. 

Vina passed away on March 28, 2020. He was laid to rest at Sarasota National Cemetery


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(Next post on Monday: Life-size Lowercase g)