GDCCC MEMBER OBITUARIES
April 20, 2004:
Howard G. Ross (1927 – 2004) passed away on April 20, 2004 after a lengthy period of
illness. He was one of the most widely known and published photographers from
this area. Howard grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan where his father was a
physician and also an amateur photographer. Graduating from the University of
Michigan with a Masters degree in chemistry, Howard began employment as a
research glass chemist with Corning Glass Works of New York in 1949 at the age
of 22. Upon his return to Michigan in 1960 he went to work for Ford Motor
Company as an analytical glass chemist until his retirement in 1983. In
professional activities he held many patents and wrote and lectured on glass
characteristics, lenses, and optics for industrial applications as well as
photography.
Howard
joined the Photographic Guild of Detroit in 1960 and became the most
photographically active member in the history of that club, amassing the
amazing total of 3093 acceptances in club competition nearly 1000 points more
than second place. Through April 2003, that total included 876 monochrome and
color prints, 1214 color slides, and 978 nature slides. His record of successes
in Council competitions over the same time period was equally outstanding. His
work was widely varied in subject matter with emphasis on landscapes and
scenics, but perhaps Howard will best be remembered in club and council
competitions for his appealing prints and slides of dogs and cats with perfect
strobe lighting in a bold and high impact “portrait” style. He set the standard
for others to emulate.
His
photographic career is said to have begun when he sold his first picture of the
Canadian Rockies at the age of fourteen. Howard went on to become a pioneering
stock photographer in the 1960s and achieved equal success in the publication
of his photography in books, periodicals, and advertisements. He was a
dedicated photographic “gadgeteer”,
creating various unique photographic devices, lens adapters, and filters many
of which were published in magazines, including Modern Photography. Howard was
also a master of photographic techniques including, night shooting, “painting
with strobe”, portrait and product lighting, and view camera. Howard put his scientific
knowledge of glass and optics to photographic use by his discovery of the
“enhancing filter” for color photography. Based on his observation of work in
photo microspocy, he deduced that a special glass, when used in the appropriate
situation, produced spectacular color images of great impact. Howard produced
theses filters by his own hand and sold them to photographers around the world.
It became a tradition to see Howard almost every fall in Vermont photographing
autumn color and demonstrating the value of that filter.
Howard was
photographic mentor to many photographers who still called on him long after
they went on to be successful in their own photographic careers. Howard was
known for his interesting intellect, his great memory especially for photographic
equipment, techniques, and locations, a keen sense of humor, and his ubiquitous
frugality. He often told of one camera of his which he coined his trusty
"Cheapflex", a well worn 2 1/4 Mamaiya camera which he purchased for
$12.00 and which netted him thousands of dollars in stock sales and hundreds of
Guild and Council acceptances. He is survived by his wife Lucille, his daughter
Suzanne Kesten, a medicinal chemist and husband Stephen and their 3 children,
Shanna, Joshua, and Naomi, and his son Bruce a PhD. medicinal chemist and his
wife, Sui-Jean and their 3 daughters, Audrey, Leila, and Thea.
January 21, 2004:
Nemo Warr, age 87, died January 21, 2004, at William Beaumont
Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan. He was born April 17, 1916 in Grand Rapids,
Michigan to Charles and Damya (nee: Sufade) Warr. Current resident of
Birmingham, MI.
Education: graduate of Eastern High School in Detroit where he lettered in
track and football. Following graduation he worked for Packard Motor Co.
Occupation: Director of Photography for Detroit Institute of Arts, from
1963-1982
Former Employer: Owner and Operator of Nemo’s Market (Highland Park), from from
1948-1963.
Mr. Warr became interested in photography after his wife bought him a camera
for Fathers’ Day in 1953. This started a lifelong passion for photography. He
exhibited in photographic salons locally and internationally. He was elected a
Fellow of the Photographic Society of America (FPSA), and was a past-president
of the Photo Guild of Detroit. After he sold Nemo’s Market, he took a job as a
photographer at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1963. When he retired in 1982,
he held the position of Director of Photography. Nemo, a lifetime member of the GDCCC, joined the Motor City
Camera Club in the mid '50's. He then joined the Photographic Guild of
Detroit in 1957 and immediately became one of the outstanding and nationally
known proponents of the "Big, Blue and Glossy" printing techniques of
the Guild. From then on he was continuously honored and recognized in the
Guild, Council, and PSA for his extraordinary photographic skills and
willingness to assist others and pass on his knowledge. He became a life
member of the Guild after serving as President from 1974-1976.
For many years he was a fixture in the Guild Annual Seminars (including as
Chairman) with stimulating programs on printing and portraiture. He frequently
gave programs for Council clubs as well as the Guild and PSA and he was also in
demand as judge and commentator for clubs and international exhibitions.
He had also joined the Photographic Society of America in 1958 earning an APSA
in 1966 and FPSA in 1971. Among many activities with PSA he was Chairman of the
Pictorial Print Divison from 1972 to 1974 and received the Stuyvesant Peabody
award for having "contributed significantly to Pictorial Photography"
in 1980 and was a Star exhibitor in monochrome and color prints. James H.
Turnbull, Hon. PSA, FPSA (former President of PSA) e-mailed that "It is
indeed a sad day, not only for Detroit Photography but for all of PSA and many,
many other people who knew and loved Nemo."
After retirement Mr. Warr continued to do free lance work and traveled, while
enjoying his children and grandchildren.
Military experience: Mr. Warr enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the start of WW
II. He went to officers’ training school and became a 2nd Lt. He was shot down
on his 47th bombing mission over Germany, and taken as a prisoner of war for 18
months. He earned 2 Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He was liberated by Patton
in 1945.
After the war, Mr. Warr bought and ran Nemo’s Market on Hamilton Road in
Highland Park from 1948-1963.
Beloved husband of 53 years to the late Florence, deceased February 4, 2003.
Dear father of Dr. Gary (Beverly), Marlene Moraca (Stephen), Anthony, Nemo, Jr.
(Susi), Dr. John (Maria), Mary Hunt (Brian), Cindy Yun (Perry) and James.
Loving grandfather of 14: Aaron Moraca, Matthew Moraca, Garrison Warr, Alex
Hunt, Max Hunt, David Warr, Adrienne Yun, Charles Warr, Louis Yun, Mary Ann Warr,
John Warr, Ross Warr, Sydney Hunt and Anthony Yun.
Brother of Mike Shloub (Ellie).
January 4, 2004
William D. Glaspie Sr. of
Waterford, died Jan. 4, 2004, at 70 years of age. He was the loving husband of Nancy for over 50 years; beloved
father of Jan (Scott) Baty of Traverse City and Bill (Cindy) Glaspie of
Waterford; grandfather of Allison (Nick) Hall and Sarah Baty, all of Traverse
City, Calvin and Bradley Glaspie; brother of James (Di) Glaspie; brother-in-law
of Dick (Mickey) Clemence. He was preceded
in death by his parents, Red and Doris Glaspie of Kalkaska.
Bill was owner and operator of Powers Bike Shop, specializing in Schwinns, in
Royal Oak for 32 years. He sold the business in 1991. Bill was an international award-winning nature photographer and a
member of the West Oakland Camera Club.
Bill and his wife Nancy loved their cabin on the Manistee River, where
for over 40 years Bill hunted and fly-fished. Bill will always be remembered
for always giving of himself and never expecting anything in return but your
friendship and a smile.
December 16, 2003:
Dr. Andrew M.
Wims, Born on April 29,
1935 in Philadelphia, PA to Calvin Wims and Minnie Lightfoot Wims. He was called Buddy by his parents and siblings,
he was known affectionately as Andy from his college days onward.
He attended primary and secondary schools in Philadelphia where he grew up, and
he was an active member of Jones Tabernacle A.M.E. Church. After high
school, he attended Howard University in Washington D.C. and graduated with a
B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemistry. He continued his studies at
Pennsylvania State University and George Washington University in Washington
D.C. He later returned to Howard where he received his Ph.D in Physical
Chemistry in 1968.
Andy worked for General Motors for 33 years until he retired three
years ago. At the time of his retirement from GM, he was a Senior Staff
Research Scientist in the Analytical Chemistry Department. He was a
member of Sigma Xi, an honorary scientific society. At Howard University,
he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He enjoyed his
involvement in Alpha meetings, including his use of the Roberts Rules of Order
to help meetings flow. He was an active member of the Mayflower
Congregational UCC where he served in many capacities, including chairman of
the Board of Trustees and chairman of the Usher Board.
Andy was passionate about his hobby, taking photographs. He
especially loved nature and wildlife photography and won many blue ribbons
nationally and internationally for his photographs. He was an active
member of the Photographic Guild of Detroit for many years. He served as
its President and chaired the Annual Photographic Seminar. Andy earned an Associate Greater Detroit
Camera Club Council honor and was the General Chairman of the
Detroit International Salon of Photography for the past few years. He recently became an Associate in the Photographic Society
of America and was elected its Executive Vice President. He traveled
worldwide, including Africa, Alaska, Canadian Rockies, Hawaii and Europe to
take beautiful photographs.
His wife of 44 years Sara, three daughters Joyce, Angela and Cheryl,
and a son Brian survive Andy. He has two beloved grandchildren -- a
grandson Raphael and a granddaughter "his pride and joy"
Fuchsia. Andy also leaves to mourn three brothers Tyrone and James Wims
of Philadelphia, and Dr. Warner Wims of San Francisco, a sister Ethel Gilliam
of Philadelphia and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Andy's
mother and father preceded him in death.
October 23,
2003
February 23,
2003:
Edward Lee Seng, Born on June 27, 1915 in Louisville, Kentucky to Edward
Fredrick and Lena Ellis Seng (nee Pedigo), passed away on February
23, 2003. He is survived by his wife Gemera of 34 years, children
Doris (John) Murdock, Peggy (Robert) Ferrari, Sue (James) Parker
and Albert "Bud" Seng, four brothers-in-law and three sisters-in-law,
15 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, many nieces,
nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Edward
and Lena, his son Edward Lee Seng II and his former wife Dorothy Seng
Bannon. He was a salesman with Canada Dry Corp. in Louisville, KY, transferred
to Detroit from Chicago on July 5, 1955 as Division Manager for
Canada Dry, Detroit (soft drinks products), left Canada Dry in 1962 and
was associated with food brokers in the area until October 1, 1973 when
he joined the Clopay Corp. as District Sales Manager. Retired from Clopay,
July 1, 1980 right after his 65th birthday. He was very active in
photography circles with membership in the Photography Society of America,
Seaway Chapter PSA, and Local Club Michigan Pictorial Society, was an
Associate with The Greater Detroit Photo Council. He held memberships
in the following organizations: Lewis Lodge #191, F&AM, Louisville
and dual member of Wyandotte (Trenton-Wyandotte) Lodge #170, A.A.
Scottish Rite, Valley of Detroit, AAONMS Moslem Temple Shrine, Detroit,
Downriver Scottish Rite Club, Downriver Shrine Club, Redford Northwest
High Twelve Club, dual membership with Downriver High Twelve Club
and B.P.O. Elks #2194, Allen Park, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village
Founders Society, Detroit Institute of Arts, Toledo Museum of Arts,
Great Lakes Housekeeping Association, National Parks and Detroit Metro
Parks. Enjoyed family reunions held each year locally and in Louisville,
KY, Deptford, NJ and Tucson, AZ. Funeral service THURSDAY,02-27-2003
at 10:00 a.m. at the R.J.
Nixon Funeral Home, 2544 Biddle, Wyandotte 734-284-1600. Visitation Tuesday 5-9
and Wednesday 1-9. Masonic Service Wednesday 7 p.m. Interment at Michigan
Memorial Park, Flat Rock.