From The Scoop: Michelle Urry

From the October 20 issue of Gemstone Publishing's The Scoop:

Playboy editor Michelle Urry passed away this week after a battle with ocular melanoma. She was 66.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Urry graduated from UCLA as an English major and dress shop owner. After selling her shop, she relocated to New York to gain work as a designer. She quickly changed scenery again, heading to Chicago at the behest of a friend who suggested Playboy and its possible design work potential.

Playboy offered her secretarial work instead and, insulted, Urry declined. She was soon after offered the job of "bunny department assistant," a position with the possibility of upgrade to the editorial department. After a short while at this job, she transferred yet again to receptionist at the Playboy mansion, where she was told she may become a cartoon editor in a year's time.

In 1971, she did just that, bringing her childhood familiarity with comic books and comics collecting, as well as her sleek fashion design sensibility to the staff. She is credited with helping to define the look of current Playboy cartoons.

Urry is survived by her husband, Alan R. Trustman, and one son.

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