In his 97 years, Howard Munce — talented illustrator/writer/painter/sculptor/ cartoonist/teacher, longtime Westport volunteer, awesomely good guy — has been profiled by nearly every publication that covers those things.
Including, now, 5 O’Clock.
If you don’t know — and I sure didn’t — that’s the online magazine put out by Harry’s, a trendy quality-craftsman men’s razor company.
So, um, no offense, but what would they want with a 97-year-old, white-haired guy — no matter how prolific and beloved?
Howard Munce (Photo by Brian Ferry for Harry’s)
Turns out Howard’s granddaughter Rebecca Brewster works for Harry’s. One day in their Union Square office, she was talking about Howard and his ad agency days. Perhaps sensing a connection to Mad Men, they wanted to meet him.
Soon, a writer and photographer traveled to Westport.
The result is a breezy, loving look at a local icon, covering his service as a Marine in World War II, his time in New York as a neighbor of Norman Rockwell, and his work with agencies like Young & Rubicam.
It’s beautifully illustrated too.
How nice to find on this webzine — filled with articles profiling a hipster San Francisco bread maker, and advice on properly winterizing your beard — a loving portrait of this graceful man, old enough to be some readers’ great-grandfather.
Howard Munce’s well-used studio. (Photo by Brian Ferry for Harry’s)
(To read the full story, click here.)
