AWN's editor in chief Sarah Baisley with Mr. Barbera in the late 1980s.

When I got the news in 2001 that legendary animator William Hanna had died, I dreaded the day the other shoe would drop. That day finally came, Dec. 12, 2006, when Hanna's lifelong collaborator -- the ultimate animation pitchman -- Joseph Barbera passed away. His zest for his art and life propelled him to keep on producing and directing to the age of 95, when that smarter than average creator who did all the thin'in' for so many took his exit -- stage left.

I was so fortunate to work for both these great mean, at the start of my career, with extra access to them as their publicist for 13 years. Well loved by so many, Barbera loved people. He studied them, he entertained them, he mimicked them, he comforted them.

With all his accomplishments and honors, he was humble and respectful of persons in every capacity. He knew all played an important role in his professional and personal life. He never rested on his laurels, but started each day and enterprise fresh, bouncing back from failures, dodging slings and arrows, inventing a new step to the dance.

It's when great pain and love we mark the end of fun and fine era in animation. AWN has collected thoughts, photos and recollections from many who had their lives touched by this wonderful man. We culminate with the beautiful tribute from his daughter, Jayne Barbera, she read at the memorial Warner Bros. held earlier this year to celebrate his life. Feel free to add your thoughts in our comments section.

Let me just add my most inspiring recollection. It was early one morning; he had just finished doing a live interview at a radio station in Los Angeles. He had been charming, engaging with the host. As we headed back to the car, a production assistant in the station mustered enough courage to ask Barbera if he might be able to contribute an animation memento to his school's charity benefit. Barbera was charming to him, asked him about his studies and career and promised he would be sure to get something to him.

Back in the car, out of sight, he looked weary and sighed. Knowing how bombarded he was daily with requests and business, I asked him if he got tired of people asking him to do something for them all the time. He patted my hand and said, "It's OK. They're only asking me because I can." It was, and still is, the most empowering thing I've ever heard.

Sarah Baisley, Editor in chief, AWN, former HB publicity director

Joe Barbera at his desk with David's father, Bill. Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation.

They were not only great creators of cartoons, which they demonstrated they could do for the first 15-20 years at MGM -- they were awfully good at that. But they did an even better job when they formed Hanna-Barbera. They created disruptive technology and they disrupted an entire industry. Nobody thought at the time cartoons could move to television and nobody saw this move as important as it was going to be over the next 40 years. So they were revolutionary in terms of their vision and courage and foresight to be able to see the importance of this new medium and be able to capitalize on it.

Dad and Joe had a philosophy that the team was very important. I think one of the key reasons for their success and their 70-year relationship is that they knew how to build great teams of people. They had a lot of individual contributors, but it was a superb team effort with a philosophy of inclusion and teamwork. And they were great motivators.

The reason I'm convinced they were able to work well into their 80s and be vibrant and contribute is because they loved what they were doing. It wasn't about money; it was about passion.

David Hanna, Bill Hanna's son

Joe Barbera's creative talent will give enjoyment to generations of kids and adults to come. My honor is to have played a small part as a cartoonist working with him at Hanna-Barbera for many years.

Gary Hoffman, Former HB layout supervisor

I started to work at H&B in 1960! The "new building" was not completed yet, so we occupied a building up the block, at 3501 Cahuenga Blvd. We were all on one floor and Bill & Joe's doors were always open to us, thereby creating a warm, friendly atmosphere that is lacking all but the smallest studios today. They also continued the Disney & MGM tradition of ALL people in animation on a first-name basis. The only people who addressed Joe as "Mr. Barbera" where the office workers.

Although he was not trained as an artist (he majored in finance in college) he had a natural ability that a cartoonist must have. I remember as an animation checker, being in the "sweat box" as we used to do, viewing one of our shorts with him. We would take notes on the retake corrections he wanted, and, in the darkened room, he would, with a few deft strokes, indicate with a "pencil," the attitude or action he required! This was a talent that could not be taught, just possibly refined in an animator. Although he was mainly involved with the story and the writers, his genius was an artistic whole. Those were the "Golden Days" of animation, particularly in television.

Merle Welton, Animation checker