Tenth Letter of the Alphabet

Monday, July 6, 2026

Comics: Delores Heilman, Letterer and Colorist

Delores Heilman was born Delores Joan Sterba on September 19, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois. The birth date is from the Cook County, Illinois Birth Index at Ancestry.com. Delores’ parents were Joseph Sterba Jr. (1899–1979) and Emily Riha (1903–1987), both Chicago natives.

The 1930 United States Census counted Delores (line 40) and her parents in Chicago at 2712 West 22nd Street. Her father was a proprietor of a haberdashery.

The trio (lines 63 to 65) were at the same address in the 1940 census. Delores’ father was a clothing store salesman.

Delores attended Harrison Technical High School from 1943 to 1946. Her senior activities included: Advertising Manager, Herald; Senior Advisory Committee; Advanced Art; Student Helper; This ’N That; Division Alternate; Hall Guard; G. A. A.

1946 Harrisonian yearbook

Delores continued her art training at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts where she met Dan Heilman, a World War II veteran. They married on May 26, 1949 in Vermont. The Herald (Crystal Lake, Illinois), June 23, 1949, reported their marriage.

Grand-daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sterba, Is Married
Miss Dolores Sterba, daughter of Mr. Mrs. Joseph Sterba of Chicago, grand-daughter of Mr. and and Mrs. Joseph Sterba, of Fox River Grove was married to Daniel Heilman on May 26 at Shaftsberg, [sic] Vt. Mr. and Mrs. Heilman will make their home in Vermont.

According to the 1950 census, the couple (lines 21 and 22) resided on State Road North in Shaftsbury, Vermont.

Heilman’s self-profile, in the National Cartoonists Society Album 1960–1961, said

... attended Chicago Academy of Fine Arts after war, where I met my wife Del, also an artist. Del does all lettering and color work on Judge Parker. ...

I believe Delores learned how to letter from her husband. American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Heilman drew “Judge Parker” from November 24, 1952 to January 9, 1965. N.P. Dallis, the creator and writer, lived in Toledo, Ohio when the strip began. Delores and her husband moved to Toledo. The Toledo Blade Pictorial Magazine, December 4, 1960, published the article, “Toledo: Cartoonists’ Colony”, which included a photograph of the couple. The last paragraph said

Mr. Heilman keeps to a fairly rigid eight-hour day and his wife, Dell, works on a less regular schedule. She works primarily because she likes to draw, but also because “I couldn’t live in the same house with the guy if I didn’t have something to keep me busy,” she said—while smiling.

Delores and her husband, Dan, divorced in October 1965 according to a notice in the Fort Lauderdale News, October 20, 1965. He passed away on December 17, 1966.

In May 1967, Delores married William Plumas Robinson Jr. in Florida. The South Florida Sun Sentinel, July 26, 2005, published his obituary.

Robinson, William 76, of Pompano Beach, FL, passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2005. Born in Forrest City, AR, he has been a local resident for 48 years. He served us proud in the Marine Corps doing tours in the Korean War and the reserves. He is survived by his beloved wife Delores and son William James. A Cryptside Service will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 at 11 AM. As expressions or sympathy in lieu of flowers donations to the American Cancer Society, 1-800-227-2345 would be appreciated. Services are entrusted to Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 200 W. Copans Road, Pompano Beach, FL (954) 784-4000.

Delores’ death was noted at Dignity Memorial.

Delores Joan Robinson, age 95, of Plantation, Florida passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024.

A visitation for Delores will be held Thursday, January 18, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Kraeer Funeral Home, 200 West Copans Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33064. A committal service will occur Friday, January 19, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 200 West Copans Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33064.

Jean Callahan, Helen Chu aka Duffy Mohler, Milton Cohen, Ellen Cole, Herb Cooper, Danny Crespi,

Jon D’Agostino, James Daleo, Martin DeMuth, Shel Dorf, Marty Epp, Howard Ferguson, Herb Field,

Gerda Gattel, Selma Meyers Gleit, Louis L. Goldklang, Angelo Grasso, Anita Greene, Al Grenet, Ed Hamilton, Delores Heilman, Ray Holloway, IBM Directory, Alex Jay, Albert and Charlotte Jetter,

Abe Kanegson, George Kapitan, Anna Kaufman, Gary Keller, Rick Keller, Nadine French King, Ralph Komisarow, Grace Kremer, Morrie Kuramoto, Al Kurzrok,

Bob Lander, Bob Laughlin, Bob Leatherbarrow, Shelly Leferman, Len Leone, Joe Letterese, Veda Lufkin,

Robert N. MacLeod/Leroy Lettering, Lee Maroshek, Larry Mayer, Ed McLean, Jack Meltzer, Mel Millar, Jim Novak, Bill Oakley, Ben Oda,

Walter Palais, Stephen Palmisano, Charles Paris, Otto Pirkola, Fred Proctor, Jerry Robinson, Joe and Sam Rosen, George Roussos,

Georgette Sauterel, Ira Schnapp, Irving Settel, Rome Siemon, Artie Simek, Lora Sprang aka Pat Gordon, Herman Stackel, Stan Starkman, Daisy Swayze, Zoltan and Terry Szenics,

Richard Deane Taylor, Alberta Tews, Matthew Tweedy, Frank Vina, George Ward, Irv Watanabe, Irving Werstein, Leo Wurtzel, John Yakata, Bill Yoshida, Bernie Zuber

Women in Comics Posts

Jeanne Alippe, Ruth Atkinson, Olive Bailey, Valerie Barclay, Vivian Berg, Zena Brody, Jean Callahan, Helen Chu aka Duffy Mohler, Ellen Cole, Corinne Boyd Dillon, Anahid Dinkjian, Jill Elgin,

Barbara Clark Fogel, Laura E. Foster, Evelyn Gaines aka Lynn Lovelace, Merna Gamble, Gerda Gattel, Selma Meyers Gleit, Jane Krom Grammer, Anita Greene,

Bonnie Hano, Delores Heilman, Ray Hermann, Joye Hummel, Marjorie Wilkes Huntley, Grace Jacquet, Charlotte Jetter,

Anna Kaufman, Bessie Mae Kelley, Nadine French King, Alice Kirkpatrick, Grace Kremer, Ada Levy, Pauline Loth, Veda Lufkin,

Marion McDermott, Emma C. McKean, Tarpé Mills, Claire S. Moe, Phyllis Muchow, Lily Reneé, Ruth Roche,

Georgette Sauterel, Marie Severin, Marcia Snyder, Lora Sprang aka Pat Gordon, Serena Summerfield, Daisy Swayze, Terry Szenics, Claire Szep,

Alberta Tews, Peggy Zangerle

(Next post on Monday: The Futurist Art of Mike Hinge)

Monday, June 29, 2026

Creator: A Few Details About John Alcorn, Illustrator and Designer

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.

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 in front row, second from left; 1951 Arista yearbook

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

... 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].

American Artist, September 1958, “The Push Pin Studios”

Books! (1962)

Wood (circa 1964)

Writing! (1964)

The 44th Annual of Advertising & Editorial Art & Design (1965)

A Letter to Anywhere (1965)

Wonderful Time (1966)

Citizen Register (Ossining, New York), April 15, 1967

Art Direction, October 1967

The Citizen Register, February 10, 1970, reported Alcorn’s medal from the Cooper Union Alumni Association.

Jerome Snyder profiled Alcorn for the graphic design publication, Graphis, number 153, 1971.

CBS

Wood 2 (circa 1970)

It’s Hard to Be Hip Over Thirty and

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 Alcorn
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.

Reports of his passing appeared in The New York Times, February 2, 1992 and The Hartford Courant, February 3, 1992.

Wood Type, Morgan Press

Morgan Press Wood Type Supplement Number One

The Headliners & Morgan Press
Rob Roy Kelly
Ampersands
1875–1876 Lakeside Annual Directory
Monocle

Wood 2

Larry Ottino, Lettering Artist

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

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)