Scoop is saddened to report the passing of pioneering comic book distributor Ron Forman. Forman passed away at 79 following a brief illness.

With his business partner, Walter Wang, Forman formed Forman & Wang Enterprises, which later became the distributor Comics Unlimited.

“Our beloved friend, teacher, mentor, businessman, mathematician, radio show host, father, grandfather Ron Forman left this world at 2:25 AM on December 8 after a full day surrounded by family telling stories and listening to his music. He loved all of you and didn’t want you worrying about him (and didn’t have the energy to properly respond to all of you) as he battled a very aggressive form of cancer. He actually had been silently battling it for several months but chose to continue living his life, as only he could, until he literally could no longer lift himself off the floor. He remained hopeful and optimistic to the end,” his family posted on his Facebook page.

Forman and Wang, started in the distribution business working for the originator of the direct market for comics, Phil Seuling, before running Comics Unlimited from 1977 to 1994, when they sold out to Steve Geppi’s Diamond Comic Distributors. For Diamond, the move solidified their presence in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Geppi said that the theoretical competitors were more like colleagues and friends, and that founders helped each other out behind the scenes on more than one occasion.

“My deepest condolences go out to his wife, Ann, his family, and his many friends. From the beginning, knowing Ronnie (and Walter) was never just a business relationship. Instead, what could have been a rivalry was instead a true friendship and a real blessing,” Geppi said.