Legendary Artist Carlos Pacheco Passes Away at 60

www.superherohype.com/comics/521806-legendary-comic-book-artist-carlos-pacheco-passes-away-at-60

Carlos Pacheco, the Spanish-born illustrator whose career took off in the mid-‘90s and led to acclaimed runs on several Marvel and DC storylines, died earlier today following a battle with ALS. He was 60 years old.

Earlier this year, Pacheco confirmed that he was stepping aside from drawing comics in order to deal with his ongoing health issues, which seemingly began last fall when he suffered paralysis in his right leg. Pacheco announced that he was undergoing spinal surgery and would return to work after he recovered. But it wasn’t until September that he finally made his ALS diagnosis public. Later that month, Pacheco also posted his cover for Marvel’s Damage Control #2, which he claimed would be his last-ever piece of artwork. News of his passing comes five days shy of what would have been his 61st birthday on Monday, November 14.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Pacheco

Marvel Comics memorialized Pacheco in a tweet posted on the day of his death, which read "We mourn the loss of a dear part of the Marvel family, comic artist & writer Carlos Pacheco. His legacy of iconic designs and storytelling like Avengers Forever, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Excalibur, Captain America, and more will be remembered. Our thoughts are with his loved ones."

Juan Carlos Ruiz Boi, the mayor of Pacheco's birthplace San Roque, declared two days of official mourning. Flags at government institutions were lowered to half-mast. After consulting with Pacheco's family, Ruiz Boi also decided to create a funeral chapel in the plenary hall of the Palacio de los Gobernadores (Palace Of The Governors), at which the public would be able to pay their respects. Ruiz Boi praised Pacheco for registering as an organ donor, stating, "All of us who have known him will miss him, and he would like to offer condolences to his family and friends. I am sure that the rest of the Corporation and the people of San Roque will share my words, as well as the fact that two days of official mourning have been decreed. Likewise, a burning chapel is going to be set up in the Palace of the Governors so that all the people who wish to can pay homage to him… Our sadness is only lessened by the knowledge that in life, he achieved the recognition of all around him, that he knew and appreciated it. He was grateful that the City Council put up an avenue in his name, that he was named the town's Favourite Son and that, in his honour, there is a contest named after him."