Dave Thorne, an artist and educator who influenced generations of Hawaii cartoonists and illustrators, died early this morning. He was 82.

A Facebook posting from his son, Randy, said Thorne suffered a major stroke on Friday.

Thorne was frequently called “the father” and even “the Jedi master” of Hawaii cartooning.  

Thorne taught cartooning classes at the University of Hawaii for 23 years and also was an illustrator for the Department of Education for many years. He was active until last year, lecturing and drawing for children at a series of appearances at Hawaii libraries.

Thorne’s Sunday cartoon strip, “Thorney’s Zoo,” appeared in the Star-Bulletin and then the Honolulu Star-Advertiser from 2007 until last year.