Rory Root passes away

Innovative comic-book retailer Rory Root has died, following emergency surgery. ComicsPRO president Joe Field wrote about Rory at the ComicsPRO blog, asking for thoughts and prayers for his friends and family.

Rory is the owner of Comic Relief in Berkeley, Calif., an Eisner-award winning comic book store that was an early embracer of the graphic novel movement.

Joe also has a tribute up at his store’s site:

Rory was a friend of mine for more than 20 years…and years before that, he was the guy I dealt with when I was buying old comics from the old Comic Relief predecessor Best of Two Worlds in Berkeley.

Rory was also one of the industry’s most influential retailers, embracing the book-store model in the comic specialty market long before most of his retailing contemporaries. With his huge presence, his ever-present coffee mug and stylish hats, Rory was an easily-recognized retailing luminary at every event he attended.