2014 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News Archives

April 28, 2014: Lois "Lane" Amster Dies, Aged 97

Action Comics #1 Lois Amster, the woman who many consider to be the true original inspiration for the character of Lois Lane, passed away last week, aged 97.

Below is the obituary published at the Dignity Memorial website:

    Lois A. Rothschild (nee Amster), a resident of Cleveland for 92 years. Beloved wife of the late Robert. Loving mother of Paul (Marsha) Rothschild of Longmeadow, Mass, and John (Beth) Rothschild of Wynnewood, Pa. Devoted grandmother of Jason (Rachel) Rothschild, Rachel (David) Grandwetter, Lauren (Andrew) Epstein and Amy Rothschild. Adored great grandmother of Zoe and Cooper Rothschild, Nathan and Micah Grandwetter and Layla Epstein. Dear sister of Henry (Beatrice) Amster and the late Robert (Carol) Amster.

    Lois's claim to fame is that she was the inspiration for the character Lois Lane. Much has been written about her in books about the history of Superman.

    Contributions in her memory may be made to the Lymphoma Research Foundation, 115 Broadway, Suite 1301, New York , New York 10006 or to the Rett Syndrome Research Trust, 67 Under Cliff Rd., Trumbull, CT. 06611 or to a charity of the donor's choice.

"Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero" author Larry Tye explains:

    With Lois Lane there are so many stories of who is the real Lois Lane model. The true story, I'm convinced, is one that Jerry and Joe told when Superman turned 50.

    That is the story that it was a girl in Jerry's class at Glenville High School; in a poor section, an almost 95% Jewish section of Cleveland, there was a girl named Lois Amster that Jerry was in love with. He had a crush on her, and she never knew that he has a crush on her. He never was confident enough to tell her. She barely knew that she existed.

    This woman, Lois Amster, finds out on her 50th high school reunion that she was in fact Jerry's role model.

A graveside service was held this morning at the Western Reserve Cemetery in Chesterland, OH. Our condolences to her family and friends.

Thanks to Jim Weiss for the lead on this story.



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