I just learned from the Guild newsletter of the death of two friends, Dave Simon, and Victor Haboush.

Victor Haboush was 85. He was a long time designer stylist at Walt Disney where he contributed to the unique look of 101 Dalmations, later Brad Bird used him for the Iron Giant.

A veteran of D-Day, he had the distinction of being one of the few identifiable soldiers in the photos of the great combat Photographer Robert Capa took on Omaha Beach that day.

Dave Simon was a New York based cartoonist who did superhero storyboards for H&B, Bakshi and Marvel. We worked together on Biker Mice and Legend of the Dragon. We communicated frequently as he battled his cancer, and he was quite eloquent on his changing condition. Dave wanted more from life, but in the end he went down like the superheroes he drew, fighting to the end. He was age 54.
courtesy of comicsreporter.com

I am at a loss for words, but for those of Nikos Kazantzakis in his novel Zorba the Greek

ZORBA: Why do the young die? Why does anybody die?

BASIL: I don't know.

ZORBA: What's the use of all your damn books? If they don't tell you that, what the hell DO they tell you?

BASIL: They tell me of the agony of men who, can't answer questions like yours.