On this day, September 8, 1936, science fiction and fantasy illustrator Don Ivan Punchatz was born in Hillside, New Jersey. After studying at the School of Visual Arts  and Cooper Union in New York, Punchatz served in the army and worked as a medical illustrator and produced animated training films. In the 60s his art work began to be used as book cover art. In 1970 he founded SketchPad Studio and he also taught illustration.