Margaret Ahern

Margaret Ahern (February 16, 1921 – August 27, 1999) was an American cartoonist and illustrator. She was educated at the Harrison Art School and the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. Ahern worked for the Chicago Archdiocese's New World newspaper (later the Chicago Catholic), as well as the 1950s WGN television show, Cartuna. She drew the monthly strips, Beano, from 1948 to 1999, and Angelo, from 1951 to 1954 for The Waifs Messenger, but is best known as the author and cartoonist for An Altar Boy Named Speck, which was syndicated by the National Catholic News Service from 1954 to 1979. Speck was featured in books published separately as: Speck, the Altar Boy (Hanover House, 1958), Presenting Speck, the Altar Boy (Hanover House, 1960), and A Speck of Trouble; New Escapades of the Inimitable and Irresistible Speck, the Altar Boy (Doubleday, 1964). Ahern was also the creator of the cartoon, Our Parish, which she published under the pseudonym Peg O'Connell, syndicated and in Our Parish (John Knox Press, 1968). She died in 1999.