IN MEMORIUM
2021
SYRACUSE - Yvonne (nee Smith), was a caring wife, mother and grandmother. She died on February 13, 2021 at the age of 94. She was united in marriage to Joseph A. Syracuse on September 24, 1950. He preceded in death in February 2013. They were married for 63 blissful years. Yvonne received her bachelor's degree from Cooper Union in 1950. She was an accomplished artist belonging to several art leagues. She is survived by her children and spouses Karen (Richard) Bonura, Nicole and Michael, Matthew (Mary), Daniel and Christine.
MEL GRIEFINGER - I grew up in the Bronx, New York and have been drawing since I was six years old. I used to copy picture's I found in books and magazines. I went to high school at The School of Art & Design in Manhattan. After graduating, I worked for a year at a trade magazine in their art department. I enlisted in the navy and spent four years on active duty, and three years as a radio operator. Upon discharge, I again went into the commercial art field, working for ad agencies. I started going to the School of Visual Art's at night, studying illustration with various teachers. At the age of 28 I began freelancing as a full-time illustrator. I did catalog art, advertising art, and book illustrations.
I did paperback and hard cover illustrations, as well as art for commercial products. I also did TV storyboards for many of the ad agencies. I taught night classes and some-day classes for four years at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
At the age of 42, I stopped working and went to The Art Students League full time for three years, studying, with Robert Schultz. I returned to illustrating for twenty years more. After forty-two years of freelancing in the commercial art field, I retired. I then studied with Attila Haijj in Oyster Bay NY for three years, until his passing. I now live in Floral Park, New York and paint at home in my studio. I am a realistic artist and now paint whatever interests me.
I have had work in shows in The National Art's Club and The Salmagundi Club. I belong to the American Artist Professional League, The Allied Artists of America, The Art League of Nassau County and the Audubon Artists. In 1995 I had a painting in the Artist Magazine and came in second in their annual show.. In 1999 I received the Frank C. Wright Award from the American Artists Professional League for their annual show. I received the Beatrice Jackson Award for the Audubon Artist's Show in 2013. For a time my work was shown by the Sunshine Gallery in Garden City.
TONY LAMARCA -The Art League of Nassau County grieves the loss of our dear friend Tony LaMarca. Tony was a long time supporter of ALNC and one of our most active members. He was always seated front row center at our artist demonstrations, the better to appreciate the artist's work. Tony was a friend to many of us, a companion in art classes and workships, and willing to donate his time for the benefit of the art organizations he belonged to. Tony was also the long time president of the Suburban Art League. His dedication to SAL was just an example of the voluntarism he exhibited in his work with arts organizations and the activity of painting, which he loved. We will miss him.