Vinnie Cafarelli (1930-2011)

Vincent Cafarelli, co-founder of NYC animation shop Buzzco Associates, passed away Friday morning. He was 81 years old.

Cafarelli began his career in the 1950s at Paramount’s Famous Studios as an assistant (photo above) but made his name as an animation director at Stars & Stripes Productions Forever in the 1960s and Perpetual Motion Pictures in the 1970s. He began with Buzzco in 1982, becoming its president in 1985.

His longtime partner Candy Kugel reported his passing today on Facebook:

It’s with a very heavy heart that I report the passing of my longtime partner, Vincent Joseph Cafarelli. Vinny was at work last week– overseeing the annual brownie baking, finishing the last roughs on a small job we’re doing, and finally helping to send out our holiday cards last Thursday. He was tired, he went home, went to bed, and never woke up. He will be sorely missed.

For more on Vinnie Cafarelli, I refer you to an excellent tribute on Michael Sporn’s Splog.