Maurice Sendak

Maurice Bernard Sendak (June 10, 1928 – May 8, 2012) was an American writer and illustrator of children's literature. He was best known for his book "Where the Wild Things Are" which was released in 1963.
Early and personal life.
Sendak was born on June 10, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York City. His parents were Sadie (née Schindler) and Philip Sendak. Sendak was a homosexual and had a partner Dr. Eugene Glynn from 1957 until 2007 when Glynn died.
Death.
Sendak died on May 8, 2012 in his home in Danbury, Connecticut from a stroke. He was 83 years old.
His remains were cremated.
Influences and influenced.
Sendak was influenced by William Blake, Herman Melville, Antoine Watteau, Francisco Goya, Mozart, Emily Dickinson, Fantasia (1940), George MacDonald, and by Philip Sendak, his father. 
Sendak has influenced Gregory Maguire, Jodi Picoult, Stephen Colbert, and Michael Buckley