Locals mourn the death of author Ray Bradbury
By Brett Johnson
Wednesday, June 6, 2012

John Anthony Miller awoke Wednesday morning to news that his great friend and idol, author Ray Bradbury, had passed away at age 91.
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Thousand Oaks resident Carol Knowles knew the Bradbury family and helped arrange his appearances there.

"He touched lives of all ages," Knowles said. "He inspired young people to aspire to their dreams, with that philosophy of 'jump off a cliff and make it work on the way down.' I never met anyone who loved more what they did than Ray. I will be forever grateful that I met him."

Two of Bradbury's four surviving daughters, Ramona and Sue, live in Thousand Oaks, Knowles noted.

A painting of Bradbury by renowned book illustrator and local resident Carol Heyer hangs in the Thousand Oaks library. Bradbury, Knowles said, cried when he saw it and hung a print in his office.

"It was his favorite," Knowles said.

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Author Ray Bradbury passed away at the age of ninety-one.  He was such an amazing person.  Brilliant and kind.  Ray Bradbury loved the library.  He always said he graduated from the library when he was twenty-eight! 

Years ago I sent him a package of my art samples.  He was kind enough to send back my return postcard with a personal note.  I still have that note.  It was many years later that I finally had the opportunity to do a painting for him.

Carol Knowles, who arranged all of RB's appearances at the Thousand Oaks Library, asked me to illustrate a slogan that Ray wrote.   I chose to include an image that the family supplied of him as a young child.  Here is the art with Ray's words:

I was gratified that Ray really loved this piece.  He ordered numerous prints, and even used the same art on a personal project, plus he has a copy hanging in his office.

We had a fun night signing prints and chatting.  During the evening I mentioned that Martian Chronicles was one of my favorites.  The next week he sent me a signed copy from his personal library.  He will be greatly missed, but he will live on in his kinds acts and brilliant works.

I donated the original painting to the Library along with the rights to sell the image.  They are available in the gift shop earning money for the library and keeping Ray Bradbury's " College Legacy" alive!