Toni Mendez-Shapiro, former Rockette and longtime literary agent, died at her home in Manhattan on March 9. She was 94.
Mendez-Shapiro began her career in book publishing in 1950. She initially represented a number of syndicated cartoonists, among them Milton Caniff (Steve Canyon) and Frank Willard (Moon Mullins), for book and product rights. She founded her agency, Toni Mendez Inc., in the late 1970s. She negotiated book rights for Norman Lear's All in the Family and also represented authors Sonia Levitin, Jon Land and Albert Marrin. A memorial service will be held in the spring.
