Harold Franklin Ashmead

Harold “Hal” Franklin Ashmead, 86 passed away March 1, 2018 at his home at Casa Del Oso in Albuquerque, NM. Hal was born February 14, 1932 in Jamaica, New York- a suburb of Queens.  Harold is preceded in death by his wife; Carolyn Ashmead, father; Joseph Ashmead, mother; Maybelle Ashmead, sister; MaryAlyce Dulin and brother in-law Edward James Dulin, bother; Joseph Ashmead and sister in-law Jean Ashmead and niece; Jamie Ashmead.

He is survived by his nieces; Brenda, Kelly, Linda Chittick and nephews; Jim Dulin, Joby Ashmead and best friend Sam Smith.

He moved at a young age with his family to Williamstown, Mass. Attending College at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA. He pursued drama and the arts, soon after, graduation from college, he was drafted into the Korean War. He trained as a radio operator and was stationed in Germany. He left the service, came back to the US and enrolled in the American Academy of Art in Chicago. After graduation he moved to Los Angeles. It was in California in 1962 working as an artist for an architect firm that he met his wife, Carolyn and married two years later. It was there that he worked for CBS. That was when cameras weren’t allowed in the courtroom and he did sketches of the trials. His first case was high profile trial was for an assist art district attorney who was convicted of killing his wife. The next trial was for the Sirhan Sirhan trial in 1968. Hal was also a staff artist at MGM animation studio in Hollywood. He painted illustrations for live- action films, storyboards and backgrounds for animation including Dr. Seuss’  “How the Grinch stole Christmas” After that Hal and his wife moved to Woodbury, Conn where they lived for 18 years. After moving to Rio Rancho in 1990’s, Hal turned to fine art. Hal’s work was part of collections all over the country including, museum of American illustration in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington DC and actor Anthony Quinn. Hal’s work didn’t go without awards and certificates including Society of Illustration in New York City, Exhibition one in Los Angeles, SCAN Tenth western Connecticut juried art show, Southwest art in the Wine Country in California, Masterworks 2000 in Albuquerque, Salmagundi club in New York City, for an oil painting of Bob Hope’s 76th birthday anniversary and television aboard the USS Iwo Jima. After the passing of his wife in 2001, Hal spent a comfortable life living in Rio Rancho, caring for his cats, taking Spanish classes and hanging out with his friend Sam Smith. In 2013 Hal moved to assist living at Casa Del Oso in Albuquerque, NM.