Tributes and expressions of sympathy were heard around the country for the acclaimed illustrator and children’s author who delighted multiple generations with his books.
Tributes and expressions of sympathy were heard around the country and around the world this week for Norman Bridwell, the acclaimed illustrator and children’s author who delighted multiple generations with his Clifford the Big Red Dog books.
Mr. Bridwell died Dec. 12 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was 86 and had lived year round in a modest house on High street in Edgartown for more than four decades.
The Clifford books generated a television show, a line of products from toys to tableware, a movie, a musical and a series of subway posters in Tokyo encouraging riders to use good manners. There are more than 126 million copies of his books in print in 13 languages. But his earliest manuscripts were rejected by a publisher 15 times.
Book was initially rejected by publishers 15 times.
Book was initially rejected by publishers 15 times.
“The whole reason I’m doing the books . . . . is because a certain lady was at a certain publisher’s on a certain day and saw the little book dummy of the manuscript I’d dropped off and took it to Scholastic,” he told the Gazette in a 2002 interview. “If she hadn’t been there that day I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.”
Of his main character Clifford, he said: “He’s kind of clumsy but well-meaning. He makes a lot of mistakes, but he’s always forgiven. I think that appeals to children.”
A native of Kokomo, Ind., Mr. Bridwell was educated in public schools there and went on to attend the John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, and Cooper Union in New York city. He and his wife Norma came to the Vineyard on their honeymoon in 1958, and returned in 1967 to buy a house in Edgartown.
“Originally it was just supposed to be a summer place,” he told the Martha’s Vineyard Magazine in an interview in 2000. “My freelance art business in New York was going very slow and the book royalties were only just starting to build up. We thought, well, maybe we could just live here and save the New York rent. So we moved here.”
Daughter Emily was character in the books.
Daughter Emily was character in the books.
Life on the Island was an adjustment at first. “At first we didn’t feel like we fit in,” he recalled in an interview. “But then people were very helpful and understanding. If they caught fish, they’d bring us fish. We were just getting by in the beginning, and I don’t know if they knew how badly we were doing. I went to speak in one of the local schools in the early years, and as I ended my talk one of the little boys held up his hand and I expected a question. And he said, ‘My father makes more money than you do.’ And I thought, there are no secrets here.”
Norma Bridwell came up with the name Clifford, drawn from an imaginary friend she had as a child. Daughter Emily, who was about a year old when her father wrote the first Clifford book, was a main character in the books.
In the magazine interview he recalled: “Quite a few years ago my son asked me, ‘How come you never put me in a book? You put Emily in a book.’ I said, ‘Because when I first wrote the book you weren’t born yet. By the time you came along, the books were already established.’ I started to make it up to him by calling every little boy in the neighborhood Tim.”
He drew his illustrations free-hand with a ballpoint pen on an 11-by-14-inch pad. Color was added later by the publishers.
Norman and Norma Bridwell at the Possible Dreams auction.
Norman and Norma Bridwell at the Possible Dreams auction.
The Scholastic books, where the main character, a lovable big red dog, was always getting into and out of scrapes of various kinds, were a huge success among children and educators. Clifford turned 50 in 2012, and through the years Mr. Bridwell was honored with many awards and citations. In 2002 he was an honored guest at the National Book Festival sponsored by the Library of Congress.
Despite Clifford’s high-profile success, Mr. Bridwell continued to live quietly and modestly. Asked in an interview with the Gazette what it was like to be known around the world, he replied:
“I guess it means we can eat out a lot. But we’ve always lived in the same surroundings in the same way. There’s not much we would do otherwise . . . I never ran out and had business cards printed, because I thought there would be nobody to hand them to and I’d be stuck with them.”
In the 2000 magazine interview, he said he only hoped his work would have staying power.
“If somebody were to pick up a book after a hundred years, I hope they’d think Clifford was the kind of dog they’d like to have,” he said. “I hope the world won’t change so much and people become so cynical that they can’t see Clifford as a loving friend. I hope they still have that capacity to appreciate goodness in a dog or in other people.”
Mr. Bridwell is survived by his wife of 56 years, Norma (Howard) Bridwell, and their two children, Tim Bridwell and Emily Bridwell Merz.
A memorial service is being planned for the summer of 2015. Arrangements are under the care of Chapman, Cole and Gleason in Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for an online guestbook.
Comments
A life well lived,and a
Joseph Paul Uranker Oak BluffsA life well lived,and a legacy that will live forever.
Such a kind man. So sorry to
Cyndi EdgartownSuch a kind man. So sorry to hear about his passing.
Norman was a lovely man and a
Dana Anderson HonoluluNorman was a lovely man and a gentleman with amazing patience. He would sign books on the lawn at Bickerton & Ripley for hours on hot summer days for endless lines of adoring little kids...how fortunate we were to have him and Norma and Clifford in our midst.
What a great man and a big
Matt DeFeo Millersville mdWhat a great man and a big loss! Norman was a very kind, generous man that was always helping people quietly behind the scenes! I spent many hours as a kid at the Bridwell's house and I remember the books being framed and put up on the wall, one by one as he had his books being published! I never dreamed that Cliffird would ever become so BIG!!!! He always gave me one of the new books and I still cherish many of them today. He and Norma have done so much for the community and they never wanted credit, they just wanted to make Edgartown a better community!!!!!
I never met Mr. Bridwell in
Geoff Smith Colchester, UKI never met Mr. Bridwell in person but growing up in Brookline, MA. his books had a big influence on me. When the Scholastic truck would arrive I would zero in on his books. One if my favourites, which I still have 40 years later, is 'How to Care for Your Monster'. I read it to my 4 year old daughter who also has inherited my wife's collection of Clifford books from her childhood. Thank you Mr. Bridwell for your wonderful work you are loved and remembered.
So sorry to hear of this, he
Betsi Convery-Luce Oak Bluffs,MASo sorry to hear of this, he was such a sweet man. I grew a block away from him. I remember saving up my money to buy one of his original drawings at a Boys and Girls Club auction back when it was on School st. I think I was 12 and I was thrilled to win it! He always said " Hi" when I ran into him.
Edgartown has been home and
Jim Joyce EdgartownEdgartown has been home and still is home to many authors over the years. Mr Bridwell stands out as one of the best in caring for the Island and the people in it. He will be missed and long live Clifford.
It is a loss to us all. I
Robert Frank gouldsboeo,paIt is a loss to us all. I enjoyed reading his books to my son and now I get to read the to my grandchildren. WE always seem to loose the good ones to soon. his work will endure
A kinder Man you will not
Doug Seward West TisburyA kinder Man you will not meet.
As a proud Hoosier it was a
Brain Smith IndianaAs a proud Hoosier it was a pleasure to meet Mr. Bridwell, as a child, on the vineyard I still remember how kind he was. I am saddened to hear of his passing
When I lived in his
Marty Milner Flowery Branch, GaWhen I lived in his neighborhood he was a kind and generous man who showered the neighborhood kids with his attention and undivided favor. Not an easy man to forget or emulate! Very sad to hear of his passing- my condolences to his family and ALL the children of the Island community.
So sorry to hear of Norman's
Lorraine St. Pierre Edgartown, MaSo sorry to hear of Norman's passing. He was such a gentlemen and very caring person. I interviewed him years ago, for an article in Highlights magazine, and I had my granddaughter Amanda with me. I have a photo of him drawing a sketch for her, as she watches in anticipation. It appeared in the magazine with the interview, and it is a family treasure. He will be greatly missed.
One of my greatest influences
John Pirtel New Haven, ConnecticutOne of my greatest influences.... Norman Bridwell made me want to draw Big Red Dogs....Godspeed Norman
As a career public school
Jeff Kuntz Spartanburg, SCAs a career public school educator, I have forever been proud to say that I'm related to Clifford, as Norman and I are cousins. It was thrilling to meet him for the first time in 1968, when I was 5 years old and already a big Clifford fan. Norman's real-life daughter, Emily Elizabeth, was 7 years old and also present. It was a further treat to have lunch with Norman in Cape Cod in 2001. What a treasure he has always been to our family, and to the world. RIP, gentle man.
I am sad to hear about Mr
Judy Stricklin Cole AlabamaI am sad to hear about Mr Bridwell. I did not know my uncle Bill (from TN) very well but it know he had befriended Mr and Mrs Bridwell and for years visited them each year at Martha's Vineyard. He always spoke highly of his friends. He passed away in 2006....hope they are together again.
He used to come to the
R. Scott Kennan Hartford, CTHe used to come to the Edgartown School, just down the street from his house, every year to inspire us. He's probably the person who was most responsible for my belief that I could create material and share it with others. He was so accessible, and made the idea of creative work a possibility for me. After meeting him, and later, other creative people on the Island, I no longer believed that "famous" creative people lived in some sort of Olympian realm that normal people couldn't reach. Mr. Bridwell was down to Earth, and truly seemed to love humanity in the purest way possible.
I didn't realize that his wife was named Norma. They must be soulmates. He will be missed.
Mr. Bridwell taught many of
Sharon Purdy EdgartownMr. Bridwell taught many of us several valuable life lessons, not the least of which were modesty and kindness. The original Clifford book and a fluffy, soft Big Red dog were always given as baby gifts to newborns in our family (and many friends as well) and Mr. Bridwell never refused my request for him to autograph those books. Those children cherish their Big Reds to this day, several of them now parents with children of their own. We should all be so blessed to leave such a fine and lasting legacy. God Bless.
His Clifford the Dog will
Sue Cimmino Palm Harbor, FlHis Clifford the Dog will stay a child classic forever and so will Norman Birdwell. A fitting tribute to his legacy.
I never met the man. I wish
Ken Homan Phoenix AZI never met the man. I wish I had- as he sounds like a genuinely nice person. What I can say is my autistic son loved his books and they made him and still make him very happy for that I am grateful to him. My sincere condolences to his family. The world is a little sadder without him.
I am saddened to have read of
Myles Siglin Flint, MichiganI am saddened to have read of his passing. My condolences to his family & friends. His books especially Clifford the Big Red Dog made a huge impact on my life. I even read them to both of my kids along with other books he wrote. He is dearly missed, God has another Angel. RIP Mr Birdwell!
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