In memory of Jack Fletcher

 

John E. (Jack) Fletcher, a nationally renowned photographer, died at the age of 86 on December 31, 2003.

 

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Last Update May 11, 2004 ... on Jack's birthday ... by Mary's nephew Kim Niles

Biography to be submitted to the newspapers:        

John E. (Jack) Fletcher - Biography
John E. (Jack) Fletcher, a nationally renowned photographer, died at the age of 86 on December 31, 2003.

Fletcher was a native of Cary, Illinois. He became interested in photography at the age of 12 and at 14 had his own darkroom. During World War II, Fletcher did photography and fingerprint identification at the Buick Division of General Motors in Melrose Park, Illinois. As the war ended, he accepted a job as criminologist and identification officer for the state of Pennsylvania. In 1944, Fletcher was hired to work in the Photographic Laboratory of the National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. After his first successful photographic assignment, he became a staff field photographer for the magazine and traveled throughout the world on assignments, including the Arctic and “Operation Deepfreeze” in the Antarctica with Admiral Byrd in 1955. During his 36 years with the National Geographic Society, Fletcher became a specialist in lighting and electronic flash equipment. In August of 1969 Fletcher was named the Society’s Chief of Photo Equipment and served in that capacity for eleven years.

Fletcher’s many award-winning photographs led to his being recognized as the world’s leading expert in the field of technical lighting for more than a dozen years and to serve as a consultant to most of the major camera manufacturers throughout the world. In 1991 he was awarded one of the most prestigious and coveted awards in the field of photography; for his dedication, distinguished service and exemplification of the highest standards of his profession, Fletcher was awarded one of the few Honorary Masters of Photography degrees to be awarded by the Professional Photographers Association of America.

Upon retiring to the Maryland’s Eastern Shore in 1980, Fletcher continued to teach courses in photography for National Geographic Society at their headquarters in Washington, D.C. He also conducted specialized courses in forensic photography for the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, and the International School of Photography in Winona, Indiana.

During his retirement, besides spending blissful hours hunting and crabbing on the Choptank River with his beloved black lab, Shogun, and treating friends to home-made beer, Fletcher continued to serve his community. He served on the Hurlock Town Council for four years and was President of the Deaf Independent Living Association on the Eastern Shore in Maryland.

Fletcher is survived by his daughters Barbara and Joan, and by his grandsons, Ryan, Brandon, and Stephen.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, January 17, at 2:00 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge in East New Market, MD.


Awards and Recognition

  • Honorary Masters of Photography degree - awarded by the Photographers Association of America (PPA)
  • Photographic Craftsman degree - awarded by the Photographers of America (PPA)
  • Diploma - American School of Photography
  • Diploma - Institute of Applied Science for Studies in Scientific Crime Detection
  • Past President – White House News Photographers Association
  • Past President – Professional Photographers Society of Greater Washington
  • Instructor – National Geographic Society, Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, and the International School of Photography in Winona, Indiana
  • Author - numerous magazine articles
  • Lecturer – Lectures given in US, Norway, England, Canada and Japan
  • Recipient – Eastman Kodak Award for Outstanding Contributions to Photojournalism
  • Recipient – Award for technical achievement from Photographic Administrators Director, PPA
  • Member – Executive Group, Industrial Division of PPA
  • Member – The Alfalfa Club
  • Life Member – White House News Photographers Association
  • Life Member – Society of Photographic Scientists & Engineers
  • Life Member and Distinguished Fellow – Explorers Club
  • Life Member – Missile, Space and Range Pioneers
  • Life Member – National Rifle Association
  • Member & President – Deaf Independent Living Association
  • Member - Masonic Temple, Falls Church, VA and Choptank, MD

Family Contact Information:                      

Joanie Kaye
703-622-6709 Cell

Email: jfkaye@comcast. <remove this space> .net

Old Photos:                                                

Click on the photo to see an enlarged

view of that photo.  Use the back arrow to return. 

High resolution versions of these photos are available upon request. 

Comments by Joanie Kaye. 

  •   Dad as a young man. His middle grandson, Brandon, was a lifeguard, too.

  • Dad a little older, on assignment.

  •   These two show how comfortable Dad was no matter where he was. I have photos of him in the Oval Office with both Regan and Nixon, yet he was just as happy on the goose blind with his dog Shogun. The picture of Dad laughing is a classic that we’ve had in our house for years.

  •   Dad with Shogun – his best friend. They were devoted to each other. Shogun even saved Dad’s life by battering the bathroom door insistently and barking furiously until Dad got out of the tub to investigate and found his house on fire.

  •   “Honest Lonnie...not bragging, but like that.” You can’t see in the picture the twinkle that would gleam when he was pulling your leg, but it was definitely there.

  •   This is Dad as Bestefar (Norwegian for Grandfather). Bestefar was a wonderful grandfather to his three grandsons. He took them fishing, crabbing and taught them how to shoot skeet. He gave each of them his first car (truck, rather-second picture) and, moreover, much life-guidance, as well.

  •   Dad with another best friend’s wife! (Don & Carol Beyer)

  •   Dad with his best friend, Mary Heller. She is a Fletcher family treasure.  The gentleman carving the duck in the picture with Dad and Mary is none other than the famous photographer and author Oddbjorn Monsen! I haven't met him, but have spoken to him and his wife Jane many times.  They were especially supportive of me when Dad was in the hospital last May (and June) with pneumonia.  See email from him below. 

  •   Probably the last picture ever taken of Dad. We were at an Explorer’s Club dinner at the Cosmos Club in Wash, DC on December 7, 2003. Barbara is on his right, in burgundy, and I am on his left, in white. We love him so much and miss him deeply.

  • Alex Ray, Dad, and Lee Quick at an Alfalfa Club banquet.  Alex is one of Dad’s dear, dear friends.  Lee, another dear friend, was also Dad’s lawyer and has been helping me settle Dad’s estate.  Being a member of the Alfalfa club was not a crowning achievement to Dad because he was not looking for notoriety; but it was indeed a great honor.  As Alex said, Dad was the official Alfalfa Club photographer for many years.  He told me that when he received his first Alfalfa assignment, his boss told him that if he ever repeated one word he heard at those affairs he could kiss NGS goodbye.  That made an impression on Dad!  He obviously earned such respect from these men of high honor (it was men-only then, imagine....) that in 1970 they made him a member.  As Alex said, it is very exclusive and very respected.  What is the Alfalfa Club? As they say in their “Crop Reports”, “The Alfalfa Club was started in 1913 in Washington, D.C. by a group of government and private sector officials with a strong sense of patriotism and a stronger sense of humor. In its 88-year history, more than 800 leaders of Congress, the Cabinet, the military, and the country’s corporate and eleemosynary institutions have gathered together in Washington to lampoon each other’s political parties and to celebrate the Founding Fathers’ efforts at building a better government.” Elsewhere they have said, “The alfalfa plant will go to any lengths, sink its roots however deep, to get a drink!” So, once a year they meet for dinner, humor....and drink. I found the “Crop Report” for the dinner Dad attended in 2002 where the following were inducted into the Alfalfa: “a bright youngster from Los Angeles and....the little California sandspur” Anthony A. Williams, the Mayor of the District of Columbia; a “little sprig of mesquite who...made the country safe for his dad’s and brother’s careers,” Marvin P. Bush (brother of President Bush); and “our final little crocus,” the President’s National Security Adviser, Dr. Condoleezza Rice (we’ve come a long way, baby!).

 

Comments From Friends & Family:            

Send your photos, comments, short stories, favorite jokes (<smile>), etc. to Joanie at jfkaye@comcast. <remove this space> .net  for posting in this section. 

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----- Original Message -----
From: Oddbjørn Monsen
To: Oddbjørn Monsen
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 1:16 PM
Subject: Jack Oslo 17 January 2003


Dear Joan and family,
 

It was with great sorrow to hear about the passing away of your father.

We both knew Jack for many years. Also our children Thomas and Elisabeth knew him very well. Even with the distance between the USA and Norway, we were lucky to meet each other several times, both in US and Norway.

We will always remember Jack for his good humor and generosity. We were close friends and talked to each other very often.

We remember visiting Washington D.C. together with the whole family. Jack was meeting us at the airport and we drove to his home in Elm Street. We spend a couple of days in his boat on Choptank River in Chesapeake Bay and had some great days, blue crab fishing. Jack was like an uncle to our children.

When he visited Norway and came to our home with the latest toys out of space robots and cabbage patch dolls, the children had a very special affection for him. He enjoyed visiting Oslo, going to the Teater Cafe for dinner. Your father was even involved in a special book project, "A day in the life of Norway". He traveled to the west coast of Norway on assignment, taking pictures - on May the 21st 1992 - in a small town named Floro. 35 other photographers, from Norway, Island and US were involved in the project .At the end, we all had a great party on Oslo.

Jack enjoyed to sit in a corner on our balcony, drinking his beer, and looking at the Oslo fjord. We named the the place where he used to sit for "Jack's Corner".

Today our thoughts are crossing the Atlantic, from Oslo to Hurlock. Since we are not able to be amongst you today, we will light a candle tonight and remember the good times we shared together. We always had great fun.

Our thoughts are also going to you and your family. Hope we can meet you next time we are coming to Washington DC.

Yours sincerely,
Jane and Oddbjorn
 

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-----Original Message-----

From: MBrill@datacolor. <remove this space> .com

Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 6:02 PM

To: jfkaye@comcast. <remove this space> .net

Subject: some memorabilia?

 

Dear Joanie,

 

Here are some websites that mention your father's work. Most show at least one photograph, and might be good additions to your e-scrapbook.

Mike

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-----Original Message-----
From: sstjohn@NGS.  <remove this space> ORG 
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 7:54 AM
Subject: Re: Jack Fletcher's Birthday - Web page updates

Kim: I'm sure that somewhere up there in Viking heaven Jack is enjoying
your website on his birthday.  Thanks for all of your efforts to put it
together. Steve
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-----Original Message-----
From: Lee Quick [mailto:lmq@quicklegal.net]
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 5:18 AM
To: Kim Niles
Cc: Joanie. Kaye@do. treas. gov
Subject: RE: Jack Fletcher's Birthday - Web page updates

 

Thx. Kim, for a new dimension (for me) on Jack's life. Some of the pics were a hoot....especially Jack in his lifeguard regalia.

Memorial Service Information:         
 

Time & Location

Saturday, January 17, 2:00 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge in East New Market (Corner of Main Street & Railroad Road), MD 21631 (Choptank Masonic Lodge #138?).

 

Directions & Parking

 

(From Washington, approximately 2 hours) take Rt. 50 East to Maryland's Eastern Shore. After crossing the Bay Bridge, stay on Route 50 at the split. Continue on Rt. 50 through Easton, MD until you reach Cambridge, MD. Continue through Cambridge on Rt. 50; as you are leaving Cambridge, you'll pass a Chevrolet dealership on your right, then empty fields on your right. Once you see a lone house surrounded by fields on the right, start watching for signs and left turn lanes. Turn left at the sign for Rt. 16 (there
will be a left turn lane). I apologize for not knowing the mileage, but after about 5 miles, look for the East New Market sign on your right and take the left turn (there is no right turn there). You will still be on Route 16. You will pass some houses on either side, then you will bear left and then will come to the East New Market stop sign. (Prior to the stop sign, Johnny's cocktails will be on your right and Mike's Tavern on your left, and then the stop sign.) At the stop sign, the Masonic Lodge is on your immediate right. The Masonic Lodge is a red brick building, with stores on the lower level. There is a small parking lot behind it and street parking. You are also welcome to park at the Zeller Funeral Home; if you continue straight from the stop sign, it will be just past the grocery store, on your left. Len Zeller, the Director, has graciously offered to have a couple of people on the street, directing traffic.

 

Flowers & Contributions

 

Two local florists are: John's Four Seasons: 877-566-3687 and Lucy's: 410-754-5011 Contributions may be made to Deaf Independent Living Association, Inc., 806 Snow Hill Road Salisbury, MD 21804.  410-742-5052. (Dad was president of this association and was on their Board of Directors).

 

 
Emergency Phone Numbers (Directions, Weather, Etc.)

  • Dad's house: 410-943-3252.

  • Zeller Funeral Home: 410-943-3686.

  • Joanie Kaye: cell 703-622-6709.

  • Barbara Stuckey: cell 202-679-9603.

Memorial Service Program

 

There will be a short Masonic memorial service, followed by a eulogy by Steve St. John. Steve will ask members of the family to speak and will then ask guests to share their memories of Jack. You are encouraged to share a special moment or anything. We will then move into the reception room, where there will be refreshments and a photo display celebrating Jack's life.
 

Click on this map for an interactive map to get approximate directions.  Please use the written directions above for exact location.