June 8, 2006 - ARNOLD NEWMAN – 1918 to 2006

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As you may have already heard, Arnold Newman passed away June 6, 2006, at the age of 88. I had grown quite fond of Mr. Newman while working closely with him on an interview about his life and his art, which was published in the March/April 2006 issue of Focus.

The first time I met Arnold Newman, his voice was strong, his character unmistakable, his laugh addictive, his heart full of joy. What was supposed to be a brief, 30-minute meeting, one cold February afternoon, turned into a five-hour session with Arnold reminiscing about his life with great joy. At the time, Arnold had been working on a retrospective exhibition at the Howard Greenberg Gallery, as well as a book of his memoirs.

Arnold enjoyed his career as a photographer, and was proud of having photographed every sitting President since Harry Truman, with the exception of the current President, George W. Bush. When I asked Arnold to tell me about the time he photographed the Prime Minister of Israel and the security measures he had to go through, he laughed. When I asked him about one of the rare occasions when Henry Carter-Bresson allowed himself to be photographed, he smiled.

Arnold had an undisputable love for photography and art, but his true passion was his wife, Augusta, to whom he had been married to for more than 50 years. He loved Augusta with every ounce of energy he had. When I asked him to tell me how he met his wife, his face lit up. He recited the story for me with such detail, as if it had happened only yesterday.

The last time I saw Arnold was when I went to take a tour of his home, which could easily be mistaken for a room at the MoMA. Paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs from renowned masters, friends, and acquaintances filled the apartment. He had just had surgery a few weeks prior, and was still recovering, but out of the kindness of his heart, he mustered the energy to welcome me into his home.

On behalf of the writers and staff at Focus magazine, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Augusta and his surviving family members. If you are in New York City today, June 8, and wish to attend Newman’s memorial service, it is open to the public. If you would like to join me at his funeral, it will be held at the Steven Weiss Synagogue at 1:00 P.M., 30 W. 68th St., on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

While mourning the loss of one of the great photographers of our time, let us also celebrate the rich, full life of Arnold Newman. Let us likewise rejoice in the experiences and treasures he has left for our generation, and generations to come.

David S. Spivak

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