Obituary of Ralph J. Amdursky

Ralph J. Amdursky On Saturday, September 7, 2013, at age 99, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Ralph Amdursky passed away. Ralph was the beloved husband of the late Naomi Amdursky and the loving father of Jon Amdursky, the late Stuart Amdursky, and Ruth Simon. Ralph studied at Syracuse University, transferring to Rochester Institute of Technology, where he studied photography. He started his career in 1935 with the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle/Times Union. There he distinguished himself through the use of existing-light and high-speed photography. Ralph soon began photographing for “Life”, “Look”, and “Parade” magazines. During World War II, he joined The Office of War Information (OWI), photographing for “Victory” magazine. After the war, Ralph enjoyed a 32 year photographic career with Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, during which time he produced 22 of the Kodak Coloramas which hung in Grand Central Station in New York City. Ralph’s trademark was the spectacular aerial view, usually taken from a helicopter. Ralph and Naomi were married for 70 years. They were among the founders of Cerebral Palsy of Rochester, a commitment they made to help their son, Stuart and thousands of other children. Ralph and Naomi moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 1978 upon his retirement from Kodak. Ralph was an avid ham radio operator, maintaining vital communications during floods, hurricanes, and other emergencies. During his career he photographed five U. S. Presidents, dozens of dignitaries and was an Honorary U. S. Navy Blue Angel. Ralph is survived by his son, Jon Amdursky, with whom he lived, his daughter, Ruth Simon, his son-in-law, Les Simon, his three grandsons, Bruce Simon, Josh Simon, and Gregg Simon and seven great-grandchildren. A graveside service will be held at the Briton Road Cemetery on Wednesday, September 11 at 11:00AM. Click here for a map to the cemetery. Eulogy for Ralph Amdursky, Sept 11, 2013 Thank you for being here. There are so many wonderful things to say about my father Ralph Amdursky, He was a very devoted husband for 70 years to my mother Naomi Amdursky. He was a very loving father , grandfather and great grandfather to his children. He set the the example for all of us to follow, leaving us to feel happy and proud to have had our Ralph Amdursky in our lives. He also became one of America's most innovative professional photographers. According to The George Eastman House, he shot 22 of the famous KODAK Coloramas, the world's largest photos, which hung in Grand Central Station, 60 Ft long X 18 Ft tall. He photographed several US Presidents, dozens of world leaders and other diginataries about whom he had the most interesting stories. Ralph Amdursky was born a full century ago in 1913. He grew up on Avenue E here in Rochester, the youngest of five children of Meyer and Bessie Amdursky. As a teenager, he was a good athlete, playing soccer, tennis and even boxing. He also developed a keen interest in photography. His older brother Samuel's last words to my father before he passed in 1932 were, " Ralph, some day you're going to be a big snapshot." Ralph attended Syracuse University, as suggested and funded by his brother Sam ... but my father's interest in photography was so great that he transferred into Rochester Institute of Technology. Upon completing his studies he became a staff photographer for the RochesterTimes Union where he used existing-light and high-speed lenses to capture action shots no one was yet taking in the mid-1930's He was also invited to shoot for "Life", "Look", and "Parade" magazines. In 1940, Dad built the house on 45 Barry Rd in West Irondequoit, in which my sister and I were raised. When World War II broke out, the US Office of War Information invited my Dad to shoot for "Victory" magazine, where he photographed aircraft and bomber production, celebrities in uniform and others to portray a strong and united America , something my father believed in. After the War, KODAK invited my father to become a staff photographer. There he innovated with his aerial spectaculars, which became his photographic trademark. These were usually photographed from a helicopter. He suggested many of his own asignments, including the National Parks, the Statue of Liberty, Mt Rushmore, Wild Horses in the Surf, an asignment with Norman Rockwell, and my Dad's favorite of all KODAK Coloramas, the US Navy Blue Angels. My father was unanamously voted an Honorary US Navy Blue Angel, receiving many invitations and a special birthday card each year from "The Blues". Some of my greatest memories came from my father taking me with him on many of these asignments, including the Blue Angels. After my graduation from college, I joined KODAK and got to car pool into work with my Dad. About his career with KODAK, my father often said, "I would have paid them!" My father and mother were among the original co-founders of Cerebral Palsey Rochester. They did this to help their son Stuart and thousands of other children. Dad was an avid 'ham radio operator'. Since 1950, Dad enjoyed talking to fellow hams all over the world, oftentimes helping with emergency communications during floods and huricanes, and once saving the life of a young girl who needed an emergency shipment of pharmaceuticals overseas. My Dad also enjoyed boating with his family in the lakes around Rochester, an interest he passed along to me and his other children. In 1978, my parents decided to move down to Ft Lauderdale, Florida, where my father built a new home. He enjoyed living in that home for 35 years. During this time, he enjoyed life at home with my mother Naomi, riding his bicycle daily and keeping in very good shape. My dad enjoyed frequent visits from his daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Les Simon , his grandchildren ...Bruce, Josh and Gregg Simon, and his seven great grandchildren: Rachel, Rebecca, Ben , Briana, Jacob, Michael and Nicole Simon. During the last two and a half years, I moved down to live with my father, who always was my best friend. We had coffee and breakfast at home, after which my Dad and I took walk down the street for his exercize. I took my Dad to lunch or dinner at his favorite restaurants 6 -7 seven days a week,which generally included a glass of Kendall Jackson Chardonnay. Dad and I were often joined by my AnaMaria, who loved and helped my father. Ralph Amdursky enjoyed a wonderful quality of life for all of his 99.9 years... and added so much to the quality of our lives. My father was the best man I ever knew. We loved and admired him for the good, kind , talented , modest and dignified man he was. He will live on within each of us who remember him and are inspired by the the wonderful example he set for us all. Jon Amdursky, Son of Ralph Amdursky, September 11, 2013 Home Tamarac, Florida Birthplace Rochester, New York