Armstrong was a treasure trove and inspiration

Locally revered painter, cartoonist and art teacher Roger Armstrong died June 7. He was 89.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Rancho Capistrano, 29251 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano.

Armstrong was an instructor in the early days of the Laguna Beach School of Art, the predecessor to the college, founded in 1961.

He was honored at the college’s 45th anniversary celebration in October of 2006, representing the pioneering academic staff.

“In his capacity as an instructor, he was highly respected and much loved for his skill and passion,” college President Dennis Power said. “He was also a published cartoonist and a skilled watercolorist. He had a rich career.

“On a personal note, when I came here two years ago, I needed to delve into the history of the college and he was a treasure trove of information on both the background and important people.

“He was a great guy and he is going to be missed.”

Armstrong attended the anniversary dinner, although in ill health, and continued to make visits to the college at the invitation of Power.

He was certainly going strong at 86, according to the catalog for “The Many Faces of Roger Armstrong,” a retrospective of his work presented by the Laguna Art Museum from Nov. 7, 2004 to Feb. 27, 2005.

The exhibit included paintings from the 1940s to the time of the show.

Curator Janet Blake described Armstrong as a highly versatile painter in oil, watercolor and acrylic.

Armstrong served as director of the museum from 1963 to 1965.

During his tenure he mounted innovative exhibitions, which introduced contemporary art to the community, according to Blake.

Roger Joseph Armstrong was born Oct. 12, 1917 in Los Angeles. He worked as a cartoonist for Disney, Hanna-Barbera, Warner Brothers, and Walter Lantz during his almost 75-year career as an artist.

Family members said Armstrong continued teaching until the week before his death.

The Rev. Armour Potter, who will officiate at Armstrong’s services today, was one of the students at the artist’s studio in Lake Forest, where he most recently taught.

“I first met Roger when I took one of his watercolor classes,” Potter said. “He made me feel like I could become an artist if I put my mind to it.

“I was honored that his family asked me to participate in the services.”

Armstrong is survived by his wife, Alice Powell of Laguna Woods; his daughter, Julie Armstrong Vance of Leucadia; his sister, Teresa Mackenzie, of Pasadena; granddaughter, Christina Ortiz Reynolds, of San Juan Capistrano; his sons, Michael Armstrong and Jon Prince; nieces Susan Bieseck and Julia Margaret Miller; and nephews David, John and Roger Mackenzie.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Roger Armstrong Scholarship Fund at the Laguna College of Art & Design.

Donations to Armstrong’s scholarship fund may be mailed to Laguna College of Art & Design, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA.