Jim Unger
Cartoonist, father, grandfather, brother, friend. Born Jan. 21, 1937, in London, died May 26, 2012, in Victoria of heart failure, at the age of 75.
Anyone who met Jim Unger never forgot it. Witty, warm and charming, he could find the punch line in any conversation. Making people laugh came as naturally to him as breathing. As a boy, he would cut a square from a cardboard box, crawl inside and pretend he was on television to keep everyone in stitches.
He excelled at school. After a perfect score on a test, a teacher wrongfully accused Jim of cheating and made him write another. But despite his quick mind, there were few opportunities for the poor Londoner. After a brief stint as a bobby and an insurance clerk, Jim moved to Canada with his parents and siblings – Bob, Shirley, Stephen, Debbie and her husband, Danny. The Ungers were close. Often living as neighbours, they shared outings and meals and, always, laughter.
While working at The Mississauga Times as a layout artist in 1973, Jim was asked to fill in for the editorial cartoonist. That brief foray led to a contract with Universal Press Syndicate for the off-beat daily comic feature Herman, which went on to appear in hundreds of newspapers worldwide and millions of books sold. Twice named best syndicated panel cartoon by the National Cartoonist Society, Herman was an inspiration to other cartoonists including Gary Larson and Lynn Johnston.
Jim was bewildered by his sudden rise to fame and never lost his humility. When asked to attend a book signing at a Chicago store, he arrived to find a lineup that extended around the block. Only after he joined the queue did he realize people were there to see him.
Wealth and fame only made Jim more generous. He never passed an outstretched hand without digging into his pocket. And he always made time for others. For Jim, connecting with people was what life was all about.
Certainly there was as much pain as success. Jim suffered from bouts of severe depression and paralyzing migraines. Still, his comedic genius could emerge. When creating his first cartoons for Universal, Jim's brief marriage abruptly ended and tears were dripping down on the page.
Jim was always able to find the hilarity of daily living – the simple things most of us never notice. It gave him, and the world, perspective.
To manage his stress and health, Jim chose to live close to the tranquility of nature – first in the Bahamas and later in Victoria. With the help of his brother Bob, he created daily comics until he retired in 1992. But his retirement was short-lived. In 1997, Herman returned to the comic pages for a new generation of fans. And the jokes kept coming. Just two days before he died, Jim wrote seven more cartoon gags.
Jim's cartoons will keep people laughing for years to come. And those who had the privilege of knowing him will always remember his heart and spirit.