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Lamar Sparkman Obituary
A private burial service is Friday. The funeral is Saturday morning at 11 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Tampa.
Sparkman is survived by two daughters, Rosemary McAteer of Brooksville and Lamar Toole of Charlottesville, Va., along with three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, who passed away in 2005.
Memories and Condolences
for Lamar Sparkman
13 Entries
Mike & Nancy White
January 22, 2010
Lamar and Gloria befriended us during our winter visits to Boca Grande. What a wonderfully funny, fun and thoroughly talented man! Lamar certainly had a twinkle in his eye!
January 18, 2010
To the Sparkman family. I have many fond memories and several pictures that he gave me over his many years that he spent at the Augusta National and the Masters. He was a wonderful artist an I felt priviledged to have known him.
God Bless
Bettie Yonker Augusta, Ga.
Dona D. Vaughn
January 14, 2010
The family of Jayne S. Vaughn of Brooksville extends sincere sympathy to the loved ones of Lamar Sparkman, and especially to Rosemary and Darrell.
James K. Taggart
January 13, 2010
May the Good Lord welcome you, our dear wonderful friend. You were so important to so many in all that you accomplished. Your smile, your laughter, your caring for so many...and your work. We will miss you so much. We'll never forget our time together with you and Gloria in Tampa at Malio's, in Boca Grande, and we'll never forget our NYC trip. God bless you and your beautiful family. Jim and Linda Taggart
Robert Wilson
January 11, 2010
Sorry for your loss. I have a couple paintings with the name sparkman 1999 on them. They are of Steve Yzerman (Hockey). Is it posssible this is the same artist..?
Steve Sparkman
January 9, 2010
I am so glad that I called Lamar when the Boca Grande Lighthouse painting was printed in the Tribune years ago. I will always prize the signed copy that hangs in my office. He graciously invited me to visit at his home when I came to pick up my print, and shared with me his family memorabilia. We very much enjoyed his presence when he led the Tampa contingent to the Sparkman Family Reunion we held in Plant City in the late '90's. I know his loss will be deeply felt by many throughout the community. Our prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Joyce Howell
January 8, 2010
Dear Sparkman family, My late husband Clewis Howell and Lamar were great friends and shared many fun times together, and I have several pictures that Lamar did for him. My sympathys to all of you for the loss of a warm, talented and loving man. Joyce Howell
Mark Routt
January 7, 2010
Dear Sparkman family,
I have very fond memories of Lamar and was saddened to receive the news of his passing today. As a young artist growing up in Tampa during the 70s and 80s, Lamar Sparkman became a local childhood hero to me. I always loved the classic logo he created for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and couldn't wait for every new episode of the Buc Bomber to be printed in the sports pages of the Tampa Tribune. I was lucky to finally meet him while working for his friend and fellow cartoonist Fred Lasswell (creator of Snuffy Smith) in the mid 80s. I was always impressed with his passion and commitment to his art. My sincerest condolences.
Tribute art by me. No, my hair isn't this long.
Phil Jones
January 7, 2010
Dear Sparkman family. About 15 years ago I called Mr. Sparkman when they were replacing his logo with the new pewter pirate. I wanted to let him know that there were many fans out there who loved his design and appreciated it for what it was, a dashing and elegant design that owed it's vision more to Errol Flynn and "Captain Blood" than the winking pirate so many chose to call it. Mr. Sparkman spoke with me (a total stranger) for well over an hour about his time served in WW2 and working for the Tampa Tribune. As a freelance illustrator and cartoonist myself I can appreciate the time he put into his work. I never stopped loving that "Bruce" logo and I will always cherish the great stories he shared and the fact that he would even speak to a total stranger. I wish I could have met him in person.
Melene Van Dyke McMannen
January 7, 2010
Dear Rosemary and Lamar,
I love you and I share in your loss, as family, with so many precious memories. Please hug each other for me and may God send you His Comforter and His Peace...
January 7, 2010
Dear Rosemary, Lamar and families,
It will always remain one of the very happy events in my life to have known Lamar. The many good times Milt and I had with Lamar and Gloria in Boca Grande are vivid memories. How perfect that he was gifted with the Buc's revival game recently. Do you think his Bucs logo was a self-portrait ? I'm thinking lovingly of all of you at this time.
Sue Phillips
Springfield, Missouri
Susan Norton Curtis
January 7, 2010
David and I will always treasure our signed Boca Grande Lighthouse print and all the wonderful memories of fabulous cartoons in the Times and the Trib and of course for all the good humor!
Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results
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