Andrew Armand Gore, Jr.

Andy Gore, a remarkable innovator and the visionary mastermind behind Quantum Mechanix Inc. (QMx), a revolutionary pop culture collectibles design studio and manufacturer, died on March 12, 2022 in Los Angeles at age 60.

Mr. Gore had been waging a private battle since 2017 against multiple myeloma. Treatment for that cancer caused him to develop acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which proved fatal.

He remained the face of and force behind QMx, developing and introducing new products for a global market despite his illness. Mr. Gore often joked that his Italian heritage made him resilient and Scottish heritage made him unbelievably stubborn. He was determined to stick around as long as he could, maintaining a quick wit and an indomitable sense of humor.

Mr. Gore became CEO of QMx in 2008, then proceeded to transform the fledgling collectibles company into a thriving, influential taste-maker. He did so by creating products that looked like works of art and delighted customers with their clever designs. He also developed new materials and production processes for a stunning portfolio of collectible figures, ship models and plush characters.

During the dot-com boom, Mr. Gore was a pioneering technology journalist, serving as an editor at MacWEEK, MacUser and as Editor-in-Chief at Macworld, which saw explosive growth under his direction. His astute coverage and critiques influenced the development of technologies we use today.

Andrew Armand Gore, Jr. was born Feb. 27, 1962 in Brooklyn, NY to Jane (Ross) Gore, an accountant, and Andrew Armand Gore, Sr., an attorney. His father's surname was originally Guarini. Young Andy Gore was a curious child who spent much of his time in the Brooklyn Public Library, found technology fascinating and dreamed of space travel. He attended the State University of New York in Plattsburgh, where he majored in English, but immersed himself in theater and music.

From the mid-1980s as the then-nascent Macintosh platform took hold, Mr. Gore rose from freelance writer to lead editing positions at MacUser and MacWEEK Magazine. From 1997 to 2001, he was Vice President of Content/Editor-in-Chief of Mac Publishing, LLC. He authored five books, more than 1,000 opinion pieces and countless news stories. Under his leadership, unique visitors at Macworld.com rose from 150K to 450K per month, and Macworld magazine and its website won more than a dozen awards for editorial and design excellence.

In 2002, Mr. Gore went on to direct web communications for biotechnology giant Amgen Inc., developing numerous websites that won awards for design, content and architecture.

Taking the helm at Quantum Mechanix Inc. in 2008 was an unexpected venture that challenged Mr. Gore to tackle the worlds of entertainment licensing, product design, manufacturing and distribution. His unfamiliarity proved to be a tremendous asset, as he proceeded to upend convention, creating new processes, developing new materials and negotiating novel partnerships. He mentored generously, instilling in his teams a passion for inventiveness and excellence. His superpower was his unique aesthetic sensibility combined with sharp business instincts packaged in a cheerful, friendly persona.

Mr. Gore is survived by Victoria Fung, his wife and creative partner since 2003; Ian Gore, his son from a previous marriage to Joanne (Dunklee) Peters; Dana Guarini, his sister; and dear friends, colleagues and extended family members too numerous to list.