Edward T. Vebell (May 25, 1921 – February 9, 2018) was an American fencer and illustrator.[1]

Edward Vebell
Personal information
Born(1921-05-25)May 25, 1921
Chicago, Illinois, United States
DiedFebruary 9, 2018(2018-02-09) (aged 96)
OccupationIllustrator
Sport
SportFencing
Medal record
Men's fencing
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1951 Buenos Aires Team foil
Silver medal – second place 1951 Buenos Aires Team épée
Bronze medal – third place 1951 Buenos Aires Individual épée

Early life edit

Vebell was born in Chicago, to Lithuanian parents.[2] He attended art school from the age of fourteen.[2]

Sport edit

Vebell competed in the individual (semi-finalist) and team épée events at the 1952 Summer Olympics.[3] Vebell was elected to the US Fencing Hall of Fame in April 2014.

Illustrator edit

 
Field Marshal Goering, Nuremberg War Crimes Trials, 1945; original now in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
 
Mail Collection, 1973 postage stamp designed by Vebell

After working as an illustrator in Chicago, Vebell enlisted in the United States Army during World War II.[2] He became a staff artist for Stars & Stripes, and was an official courtroom artist for the Nuremberg war trials. Many of his Nuremberg works are now in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.[2]

As a professional illustrator and artist, his commissions include work for the United States Postal Service. He also executed commissions for many periodicals, including a long run as Reader's Digest's most popular illustrator.[citation needed]

Later life edit

After the war, he moved to Westport with his wife, Elsa Cerra.[4] They had three daughters.[4]

In February 2018 he was honored by the Westport Historical Society with an autobiographical exhibit that paid homage to his career and achievements.

He died on February 9, 2018, aged 96.[4]

Works edit

  • Ed, Vebell (2017). An Artist at War, the WWII Memories of Stars & Stripes Artist Ed Vebell. Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0764353147.

References edit

  1. ^ "Remembering Ed Vebell". Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "An Afternoon with Illustration Legend Ed Vebell - Norman Rockwell Museum - The Home for American Illustration". Norman Rockwell Museum. July 29, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ed Vebell". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c "Memorial for Ed Vebell — the 'most interesting man in Westport' — memorial set for Saturday". Ct Insider. February 14, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2020.

External links edit