Joanne Siegel, the widow of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel, died last weekend at 93 years of age. She was Joe Shuster’s original model for Lois Lane, and she was a lovely, gracious and charming woman.

An early Joe Shuster drawing of Lois Lane, based on Joanne Siegel

I had the privilege of spending time with her twice, the first time at the 1985 San Diego Comic-Con, when I shared a lunch with her and Jerry, who was a guest of honor. They were both marvelous people-clearly devoted to each other, and funny yet humble. (And if anyone ever had the right to be angry all the time, it was Jerry Siegel.) The second time I saw Joanne was at the opening of an exhibit of Golden Age comic art curated by Jerry Robinson in Atlanta a few years ago. The additional years had not dimmed her loveliness.

Jerry Robinson and Joanne Siegel at an exhibit of Golden Age comic art in Atlanta.

She never got all she deserved materially in life, but she was adored by everyone who met her and will always be remembered as the woman behind the Man of Steel. I took the following picture of her at the same comic art exhibit…I’m so glad I asked her to pose for it!

Joanne looking at her husband's brainchild.