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John (“Jack”) Schoenherr, one of the most highly regarded and versatile artists in the history of Astounding/Analog and science fiction as a whole, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at a hospital in Easton, Pennsylvania, near his New Jersey home, on April 8, 2010. Born July 5, 1935, in New York City, he is best known in our field as the creator of powerful, evocative paintings bringing alien worlds to memorable life in this magazine and elsewhere, including a great many book covers. Among his best known of his numerous works here were the original illustrations for Frank Herbert’s Dune stories (which won him a Hugo) and Anne McCaffrey’s tales of Pern.
Readers who knew him only through his science fiction art may be surprised to learn that he was equally well known, highly regarded, and sometimes awarded for his illustrations for children’s books—some of which he wrote himself. A seldom-mentioned but crucial cornerstone of his work in both areas was a deep interest in nature photography and illustration, which led him on expeditions to photograph wildlife that he later portrayed in meticulous and impressive paintings. He once told me that this was actually his first artistic love, and it does much to explain his lifelike evocation of nonhuman life in both science fiction and children’s literature.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Judith, a daughter, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, to all of whom we extend our sincere condolences.
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