Thanks Walt and Joy!
Tuesday, July 19th 2011 @ 5:50 PM (not yet rated)
Walt Klages, Master Photographer, Craftsman, American Society of Photographers (ASP), Fellow of the Professional Photographers of Oregon, and long-time friend and professional peer missed his first PPO conference in probably 40 years this last weekend. His beloved Joy was not well enough for him to be away from her and their beautiful home in NE Oregon, near Joseph, in the Wallowa Mountains.
Walt has been an officer (including President), board member, and/or committee chair for many years, and if not officially on the Board still taught, judged, and helped out any way he could. Joy has always been there too ... working the registration tables, attending all the banquets, helping decorate or just simply enjoy the presence of so many friends and truly 'family' within the Association.
Nothing lasts forever in this life, of course ... and for many years Joy sprayed protective lacquer on their client's prints in an area without adequate ventilation, and her lungs took enough damage they are slowly failing. Given the long long drive to where they live, and her failing health, I may not see Joy again in this life, and that is a terribly sad thing to write. She has been SUCH a large part of my professional life since Miriam and I joined the PPO back in 1978, and it is so hard to think of the organization without her.
What a wonderful woman and friend she has been, and what an example they have both been as teachers and an example of everything fine to emulate as a Professional Photographer.
R. Neil Haugen, M. Photog, CPP, Fp
19 July, 2011
