Byron C. Preiss, an author and a publisher who specialized in illustrated books by celebrities, graphic novels and science fiction, died in a car accident on July 9, 2005, in East Hampton, New York, reports THE NEW YORK TIMES. He was 52 and lived in Manhattan.
Preiss, the president of Byron Preiss Visual Publications and Ibooks, was one of the first publishers to release CD-ROM's and electronic books.
Born in Brooklyn, Preiss graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 1972 and earned a master's degree in communications from Stanford University. He produced THE WORDS OF GANDHI, an audio book that won a Grammy Award in 1985. He was also the co-author of DRAGONWORLD, a novel published by Bantam Books in 1979.
Preiss published works by celebrity authors including Jane Goodall, Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, LeAnn Rimes and Jay Leno. He was dedicated to local charities, and was co-chairman of UJA-Federation of New York's publishing committee.
He had been scheduled to make an appearance at the Komikwerks and ibooks booths at Comic-Con, July 14-17.
Preiss is survived by his wife, Sandi Mendelson, and two daughters, Karah and Blaire.
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