Frank Kelly Freas
1922-2005

Frank Kelly Freas passed away on January 2, at his Los Angeles home with his wife Laura by his side.

Kelly was an eleven time Hugo Award winning illustrator known for his cover and interior art for science fiction, fantasy, as well as advertising, and MAD Magazine. He had been involved with science fiction from 1950 until weeks before his death. His illustrations were used for stories by writers such as Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, A. E. Van Vogt, Poul Anderson, and Frederik Pohl.

Kelly was a member of First Fandom and the Dorsai Irregulars. His art work covered many fields, he was an official NASA mission artist, his space posters hang in the Smithsonian, he designed the Skylab I crew patch, he did album and CD covers for Queen, he painted beautiful women on the noses of World War II bombers and portraits of five hundred saints for the Franciscans as well as contributing to Mad Magazine character Alfred E. Neuman

His funeral was held on Monday, January 3 in Canoga Park, California followed by burial at Oakwood Memorial Park in St Chatsworth California.

He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Laura Brodian Freas; a daughter, Jacqueline; a son, Jeremy; and six grandsons. Messages of condolence and rememberence may be sent via his web site at www.kellyfreas.com

Tributes and Memories

Who put the grin on Mr. Alfred E. Neuman?
(In Memory of Frank Kelly Freas)
By Jeffrey Lu

Who put the grin on Mr. Alfred E. Neuman?
Who made the Green Men from Mars more insane human?
Who design the Skylab patch without a sole scratch?
Who mastered art to Asimov, Clarke and Heinlein?

Frank Kelly Freas.

Who am I but a member in LepreCon 9
To meet a man of warmth, humor, and kindness
Pass away a generation of sci-fi art
To the last WesternCon in Arizona?

Frank Kelly Freas.

This man who is he called?
This artist who is he now?
His way
Ended this day.

Frank Kelly Freas.