| Michael James McGurk |
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Michael McGurk, graphic designer
Published: July 7
Michael McGurk, 79, an illustrator and designer who owned a graphic
design company for many years, died June 13 of pneumonia at the
convalescent center of the Patriots Colony retirement community in
Williamsburg.
Michael James McGurk, who had lived in Williamsburg since 1991, was
born in the District and graduated from the old Chamberlain Vocational
High School in the District. He later studied painting and drawing at
American University and the Corcoran College of Art and Design.
He served in the Navy and later the Army in the 1950s.
Early in his career, Mr. McGurk was a staff illustrator at RCA and other
companies, an assistant art director at the National Education Association and
executive art director of Art Designers. He was vice president of Creative
Printing. for two years before forming McGurk and Associates in 1969.
His design and illustration company was based in Bethesda and later in
Arlington County. In 1991, he moved his business to Williamsburg. His
clients included United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, or UNESCO; the State Department; major corporations and
trade associations. He retired in 2008.
Mr. McGurk was a member of the Art Directors Club. He enjoyed carving
waterfowl decoys and painting.
A daughter, Mary Becker, died in 2009.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Joyce Crabill McGurk of
Williamsburg; a daughter, Anne McGurk of Alexandria; and three sisters,
Susan Foster of Vienna and Margaret McGurk and Patricia Cox, both of
Williamsburg.
— Matt Schudel
Published: July 7
Michael McGurk, 79, an illustrator and designer who owned a graphic
design company for many years, died June 13 of pneumonia at the
convalescent center of the Patriots Colony retirement community in
Williamsburg.
Michael James McGurk, who had lived in Williamsburg since 1991, was
born in the District and graduated from the old Chamberlain Vocational
High School in the District. He later studied painting and drawing at
American University and the Corcoran College of Art and Design.
He served in the Navy and later the Army in the 1950s.
Early in his career, Mr. McGurk was a staff illustrator at RCA and other
companies, an assistant art director at the National Education Association and
executive art director of Art Designers. He was vice president of Creative
Printing. for two years before forming McGurk and Associates in 1969.
His design and illustration company was based in Bethesda and later in
Arlington County. In 1991, he moved his business to Williamsburg. His
clients included United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, or UNESCO; the State Department; major corporations and
trade associations. He retired in 2008.
Mr. McGurk was a member of the Art Directors Club. He enjoyed carving
waterfowl decoys and painting.
A daughter, Mary Becker, died in 2009.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Joyce Crabill McGurk of
Williamsburg; a daughter, Anne McGurk of Alexandria; and three sisters,
Susan Foster of Vienna and Margaret McGurk and Patricia Cox, both of
Williamsburg.
— Matt Schudel
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