Joanne Siegel, the original model for Superman’s Lois Lane, died 12 February 2011. Born Yolan Kovacs in Cleveland, Ohio, on 1 December 1917, she started modeling about 1935, and connected with aspiring comic book artist Joe Shuster, who at the time was developing Superman with writer Jerry Siegel. In addition to modeling for them, she became friendly with the comic creators, and when the Man of Steel debuted in 1938, much of his reporter sidekick’s personality was based on hers.
After Lois (and Superman) arrived in print, Joanne continued to work as a model. During World War II she worked for a California ship builder. After the war, she returned to New York, and re-connected with Siegel at a fund-raising ball for cartoonists. Both had been married, and were divorced when they married each other in 1948.
She is survived by her sister, daughter, and two grandsons.
The New York Times has a longer obituary here