Longtime Archie Comics Editor-in-Chief and Co-President Victor Gorelick passed away on February 7, 2020, at the age of 78. Gorelick worked at Archie in a variety of roles for more than 60 years.

Gorelick began his career at Archie at just 16 years old, in 1957, when the company was still being run by its founders. He began working in their production department while still attending the School of Industrial Art in New York City; even during his time serving in the U.S. Navy in 1960-1964, he continued to freelance for the company.

After his military service ended, Gorelick continued working at Archie, rising through the company ranks to eventually become production coordinator, art director, editor, managing editor, and being named editor-in-chief in 2007. He worked to oversee numerous collaborations between Archie Comics and other companies, such as Radio Shack and even the FBI, and later served on the Board of Advisors of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. Gorelick also spent time teaching cartooning at Kingsborough Community College in NYC. In 2008, he received an Inkpot Award at Comic-Con in San Diego.

“We are extremely heartbroken and devastated to inform the Archie family of the passing of Archie icon and Editor-in-Chief, Victor Gorelick, who made Riverdale his home for over 60 years,” Archie Comics said in a statement. “No person embodied the Archie spirit more than Victor, who was a leader, friend, and mentor to everyone that walked through the doors of Archie.”