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Paul Conrad Obituary
David Conrad says his father died Saturday of natural causes at his home in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
Conrad took on U.S. presidents from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush with his stark, aggressive visual style.
His favorite target was President Richard Nixon. At the time of the president's resignation, Conrad drew Nixon's helicopter leaving the White House with the caption: "One flew over the cuckoo's nest."
David Conrad said his father considered appearing on Nixon's enemies list to be his proudest achievement.
Conrad worked at the Los Angeles Times for 30 years and helped the newspaper raise its national profile.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
21 Entries
David
August 9, 2018
Growing up as Paul Conrads son was both a treat and an honor. But it did have its challenges. People want to know all about is the man who draws the funny pictures. People have asked me everything from Does your dad smoke pot? to Is your dad a commie?. Some people were amazed that he could be a real person. But to me he was just a normal dad. He was our baseball coach, the household plumber, and the captain on our family houseboat trips. He may not have known it but he gave me the practical skills to become an engineer. He and I learned to do metalwork together as is evidenced by the crucifix that stands behind me. But most importantly, he taught me how to assert myself, stand for what I believe, and to be a good man.
But, there may have been some things that he taught me that I had to re-learn. Perhaps, how much profanity is allowable. The language that he could get away with, I could not. As a matter of fact, he could be erasable, and downright profane, and people thought that he was just charming and wonderful. I guess they could see that in his heart, he was a very good man.
But I would like to give credit where it is due. And Con would agree that much of the credit for his cartooning must go to my mother, Kay. He ran all of his cartoon ideas by her and their dinnertime discussions helped to fine tune his stances on the issues of the day. He had the burning passion and she had the analytical skills and together they made one great team.
Philosophically speaking, where has Con moved onto now that he has passed? Well I believe that he would say that in this world where George W Bush could hold the office of President, any other existence is an improvement.
Faith in God was important to my father, as instilled by the nuns of St Augustine where he went to school as a child. I remember trying to explain to the Jewish Defense League that my father was not the hateful wacko that they thought he was. This conversation was spoken through the locked front door while they tied a live pig to a tree in our front yard. I told them that he was a moral man and that his views were based on his faith, not unlike them. They chose not to agree with me and left the pig for us to deal with.
He once referred to editorial cartooning as standing naked before the world each and every day. What he said in his cartoons, he believed and he lived. He was the voice for the voiceless, the force for the powerless. In day to day life he was more likely to befriend the janitor and cook than upper management. He came from humble beginnings and he strove to protect the humble until his last cartoon.
There is a piece of art that has hung in our house for decades. It has pictures of 4 great men arranged around the following statement:
It can be said of him, as of few men in like position, that he did not fear the weather and did not trim his sails, but instead challenged the wind itself to improve its direction and to cause it to blow more softly and more kindly over the world and its people.
I have always thought that this applies to Conrad like it does a very few select people. He cared about others more than you may know. Fearlessly, he tried to make this world a better place by exposing any injustices that he saw. In short, he gave a damn.
In conclusion, I speak for my family and perhaps many in attendance here today when I make the following statement:
He left his mark on the world, of that we are proud. He left his mark on our hearts, of that we are blessed.
bobbi stewart
August 2, 2012
i just heard of pauls passing last year. i think of him and his family who i was close to a number of years but unfortunately lost touch. he was a great man, a wonderful soul. i will remember his laughter, music, wisdom, and talent forever. my sincere wishes for peace of mind and heart to his wife kay who i love dearly also and to the entire family. i think of them all often, and they will be in my heart forever. love, bobbi
Trulie Manor-Lee
September 9, 2010
My deepest condolences. May your memories give you a measure of comfort at this time of great sorrow. Please continue to gain strength and peace from the promises found in God's Word the Bible. For at Daniel 12:2 we have this assurance "And there will be many of those asleep in the ground of dust who will wake up..."
September 9, 2010
Our sincere condolences to the Conrad family. May the Bible's wonderful promises for the future bring you comfort.
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Juanita
September 9, 2010
Mr. Conrad lived his life with special mightiness, may God hold him in His memory and comfort the family during this time of deep sadness. Psalms 90:10
Prince
September 8, 2010
He lived a long life and left his mark, his legacy. May the god of all comfort bring you peace during these trying times
Bil Seymour
September 7, 2010
I was employed at the "Los Angeles Times" from 1978 to 1981. During that time, all of us lowly staff members treated Paul like a high priest -- aloof and unapproachable. But, when I was promoted to Director of Media Services for Times Mirror, I worked with Paul, frequently, preparing his presentations to various groups. He was, in fact, kind, affable, and very funny. His editorial position was no act. He fervently believed in the highest principles of this nation. The country has lost one of its greatest patriots. Goodbye, Paul, and God Bless.
September 7, 2010
I was so sorry to read of Paul's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this sad time.
Regards, Shirley Jeffrey
Douglas DeFrates
September 7, 2010
Paul Conrad was my first LA hero. His insight and vision on Watergate will forever live on and his legacy will never die. We never met but I knew him like the back of my mind. I love him.
Tami B
September 7, 2010
I am with him, getting on the enemies list is a BIG PLUS!!!! I am proud of him too on that. Enjoyed his work and sending prayers of comfort to his family and friends. God Bless.
KAN
September 7, 2010
To the family of Mr. Conrad: Please accept my sincere condolences. He may be gone, but not forgotten because you have his cartoons and can be reminded of his sense of humor. In the meantime, though, we can be assured that our loving Father will help us to endure the burden of our aches and pains because 'he cares for us.'
September 7, 2010
Dearest Kay and children,
How amazing to have been given the rich and colored baskets full of all that made up your life-with-father. The inherent call now is to us, to use the colors and textures of the gifts we were given and drape them on the ones we love... As the Negri-Doran family.. we send you our love and deep fellowship as fellow progeny of our father's greatness and humanity.
Comforts and special graces,
Love always --Roxanne Negri-Gunther
Kathy Quan
September 6, 2010
My mom, Fran, was a close college friend of Kay's. Paul will be missed!! Our sincerest sympathies and condolences to the entire family. A fond memory we have is always looking forward to Paul's Christmas day cartoon on the Christmas cards. And we enjoyed his wit and wisdom for so many years. We hold you all in our thoughts and prayers. May your memories keep him close.
The Sheppard and Quan families
Charlie Allen
September 6, 2010
He will be greatly missed! He added smiles to faces of those of us who enjoyed his master pen at work. Our thoughts and prayers are with family and
friends. May God Bless.
Charles Bosdet
September 6, 2010
Fare well to gifted political and social commentator.
Marilynn
September 5, 2010
To the family of Paul Conrad. May God give you peace and comfort thru his word and the Lord Jesus Christ. During this time of sorrow, Paul will be missed by many but never forgotten by all who loved him and enjoyed his writings. (Roman 15:4)
Victoria~ VZj
September 5, 2010
So long olfriend'
you are in our prayers
thanks for all you shared
with many,over the years
a sketch of news w`editoral
art is now loss..rip 'Paul'
Our Condolences Conrad Family ~
Paul Edwin Conrad
September 5, 2010
Yes, that IS my real, given name, and I have a brother named David. After I got three books of Paul's drawings and comments, our family mused just how much the author and I have in common, with regard to attitude and opinion (certainly NOT sketching talent.) I have missed your presence in the editorial arena since your retirement.
Deepest condolences to all your family,
Paul Edwin Conrad
Alexandria, KY 41001
LORI FARRAR
September 4, 2010
YOU WERE THE BEST OF THE BEST WHEN IT CAME TO YOUR CARTOONS, YOU WERE SO CORRECT IN DOING WHAT YOU DID. YOU WILL BE COMPLETELY MISSED BY ALOT OF PEOPLE. GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY AND KEEP THEM SAFE. YOU WERE SO FUNNY AND I LOVED YOUR CARTOONS.
R Golay
September 4, 2010
To the the family of Paul Conrad - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that Paul will be missed by many.
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