Tenth Letter of the Alphabet: Comics: Lee Maroshek, Designer, Letterer, Draftsman and Architect

Monday, April 8, 2024

Comics: Lee Maroshek, Designer, Letterer, Draftsman and Architect

1942

Lee Maroshek was born Julius Leo Maroshek on March 20, 1912, in Rosahegy, Hungary, according to his World War II draft card and naturalization application. The spelling of his family name changed from Marossek (1915) to Maroschek (1940) to Maroscheck (1942) to Maroschek (1950) to Maroshek.

On May 29, 1915, Maroshek (line 14), his mother and three siblings were aboard the steamship Nieuw Amsterdam when it departed from Rotterdam, Netherlands. They family arrived in the port of New York on June 12, 1915. The final destination was Plainfield, New Jersey where Maroshek’s father lived.

On September 12, 1918, Maroshek’s father signed his World War I draft card. His address was 1429 Willever Street in Plainfield.

The 1920 United States Census said Maroshek (line 30) was the third of six children born to Andrew and Susanna. The family resided in Plainfield at 1429 Willever Street. His father worked as a machinist at a machine shop.

Sometime after the census, Maroshek’s parents divorced.

According to the 1930 census, Maroshek’s mother had remarried to Otto Veith who had three children. His stepchildren included eighteen-year-old Maroshek, thirteen-year-old Emilie, and eleven-year-old Bertha. The family lived in Morrisville, Pennsylvania at 501 West Bridge Street. Maroshek (line 68) was a designer at a tile mill. Information about his art training has not been found.

Maroshek’s father remarried in 1931.

Maroshek looked for work in New York City. He was a letterer at Harry “A” Chelser’s comic book shop between 1936 and 1940. Editor & Publisher, March 20, 1937, said

There are 11 cartoonists in the 22-man organization. Three men do nothing but lettering for the artists, and special features writers prepare the continuity.

It’s possible he was one of the three letterers. Lettering was a steppingstone in Maroshek’s larger ambitions.

Maroshek has not yet been found in the 1940 census which was enumerated in April. His mother and her family lived in Trenton, New Jersey. Maroshek’s sister’s household included their father, a widower. Emily was married to David Atchley. They had two daughters and resided in Ewing, New Jersey.

On September 16, 1940, Maroshek signed his World War II draft card. His address was Ridge and Mary Streets in Trenton, New Jersey. He was unemployed. Maroshek’s description was five feet eleven inches, 155 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. He named his mother as next of kin.

In early 1941 Maroshek began the naturalization process at Los Angeles, California. When proof of his arrival in the United States was received, Maroshek filed the Declaration of Intention application on March 2, 1942. He was a draftsman who lived at 1295 Mullen Avenue in Los Angeles.

Maroshek filed the Petition for Naturalization on April 27, 1944. The draftsman’s Los Angeles address was 1817 South Bronson Avenue.

The California County Marriage Record, at Ancestry.com, said Maroshek married Ellen M. Nicholson on January 3, 1945.

Maroshek’s wife was a California native and registered voter. The 1948 voter registration, at Ancestry.com, said she was a Democrat who lived in Los Angeles at 1310 South Wilton Place.

The 1950 census, enumerated in early April, counted Maroshek (line 1), his wife and son, Nicholas, in Belvedere, California at 4225 Mandalay Drive. Maroshek was a self-employed architectural draftsman.

Maroshek was naturalized on November 17, 1950.

The 1952 California voter register listed Maroshek at 4219 South Layman Avenue in Los Angeles. He did not state his party affiliation. The 1960 voter register said he was a Democrat whose address was unchanged.

Los Angeles Times, August 16, 1953

Los Angeles Times, June 5, 1955

The 1963 and 1969 Arcadia, California city directories listed architect Maroshek at 650 Beverly. The 1970 Monterey Park, California city directory said he lived at 422 North Garfield Avenue.

The Trenton Evening Times (New Jersey), September 15, 1959, said Maroshek’s mother passed away on September 11. She was laid to rest at Media Cemetery. His father passed away in 1963 and was laid to rest at Saint Alphonsus Roman Catholic Cemetery.

Maroshek passed away on April 21, 2004 in West Covina, California. The Los Angeles Times, April 25, 2004 published an obituary.

Maroshek, Leo J.
Born March 20, 1912 in Hungary, and passed away April 21, 2004 in West Covina, CA. He is survived by daughters, Susan Irtenkauf, Connie and Elizabeth Maroshek, sons Patrick and Nick Maroshek, sisters, Emily, Bertha, Matilda and Ann Maroshek, eight grandchildren and one great-grandson. Memorial Mass Thursday, 1:00 PM, at Queen of Heaven Mortuary, 2161 So. Fullerton Rd., Rowland Heights. Interment at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church Cemetery in Hopewell, New Jersey.

Maroshek’s wife passed away on February 29, 2020. She was laid to rest at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery.