Friend of Cerebus: Fred Patten

As reported by Jonathan Clements at All The Anime Fred Patten recently passed away:

Fred Patten, who died yesterday aged 77, was one of the foundational pillars not only of anime fandom in America, but of American anime fandom’s sense of its own history. Graduating with a Masters in Library Science in 1963, Fred was already active in American science fiction fandom when he entered the job market. For much of his career, he led a double life, writing for professional and amateur fanzines and running a comics shop, while also working as a technical manual archivist in El Segundo for the Hughes Aircraft Company.

Among all of the accomplishments listed by Jonathan, add to that Fred started the Cerebus Fanclub and with it the fanzine, Cerebus the Newsletter. The start of the fanclub and newsletter was reported in Cerebus #17, and the first issue was dated Jan / March 1981:

Cerebus the Newsletter #1

Fred didn't start the newsletter for money, as he had to give it up due to financial issues, and issue #5 was his last. During his tenure he would write back to the other Cerebus fans who sent him material for the newsletter. From his letters that I've seen, they've all been typed on scrap paper that has the letter on one side and some copy of something else, typically items for a fanzine he'd be working on. Like this letter he wrote to Steve about the Cerebus the Newsletter items and questions:

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When Jeff Tundis and myself decided to start up the newsletter again, I got in contact with Fred and asked him if it were okay if we took it over. At this point in his life, he was in an assisted living, but still wrote back to me and gave us his blessing. He didn't have to do it, answer some random question about a fanzine he did over 20 years previously from some random people, but he did. And for that I'll forever be thankful.

So here is to Cerebus Fanclub member #1, Fred Patten: