Artist Edward Valigursky died 7 September 2009 of heart failure. Born in Pennsylvania on 16 October 1926, he served in the Navy during World War II, and then used the GI Bill to study at the Art Institute of Chicago. He transferred to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and started selling his work while he was still in school. After graduating, he moved to New York City, and then to New Jersey. He was a cover artist for novels and magazines, including Amazing Stories, If, Fantastic Adventures, and Popular Mechanics. Books he illustrated were published by Bantam, Ballantine, and Time-Life. In his later years, he worked mostly on commission, usually for private collectors.
He is survived by his wife, daughter, son, two sisters, and two grandsons.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has an obituary here. Ken Steacy Publishing has a small gallery of his work on this page.