Toni Mendez

Biography Early life Born in Portugal, she immigrated to New York and briefly attended Columbia University before becoming a Rockette. She then had a solo dancing career and eventually became a choreographer. This led to her involvement with the American Theatre Wing Hospital Committee producing entertainment for hospitalized servicemen during World War II. She recruited cartoonists to give chalk talks, and the ensuing camaraderie they enjoyed doing them eventually encouraged creation of the National Cartoonists Society. As the troubleshooter for the association she gained experience that allowed a segue into a career (as Toni Mendez, Inc.) handling business affairs for cartoonists and eventually branching out to also handling writers and illustrators.

Later years She was a speaker at the 1995 Festival of Cartoon Art.

Editor & Publisher in its obituary reported, "She was involved with running her agency until the end of her life."

Bequests from her estate partially funded the launch of the National Cartoonist Society Foundation and production of the "We Are Family" music video, the latter of which became the object of controversy.

Personal life She married Harry S. Dale, vice-president of the Book of the Month Club on September 17, 1958. Dale died on October 24, 1962. Mendez then married Samuel "Shap" O. Shapiro, vice-president and circulation director of Cowles Communications on April 14, 1965. Shapiro died on September 4, 1990.

Her niece is famed lyricist Cynthia Weil who cited her aunt as inspiring her own career, stating that Mendez "understood the creative soul".

Awards In 1972 the Newspaper Feature Council awarded her their Jester Award. Ohio State University in 1987 awarded her its Distinguished Service Award. She also was honored by the United States Navy and Anti-Defamation League.