Tom Vezo, NANPA Fellow, Dies at 61

Tom Vezo

Tom Vezo passed away on July 18, 2008 while hiking in the Rincon Mountains outside Tucson, Arizona. Tom was born December 18, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York. Tom was a businessman in New York City prior to turning his hobby of photography into a successful and passionate business. His work is widely published in the United States and Europe. Tom was named a NANPA Fellow in 2008.

In the words of Karl Rekus, Tom's assistant and friend:

"Tom inspired many with his passion for wildlife and his iconic images of nature's splendor. Not just content to compose a scene in the frame of his camera, Tom strove to celebrate the beauty of a creature by capturing intimate portraits of wildlife in native habitat as well as photographs of complex and fascinating behavior.

Seeing the beauty of the natural world through his lens not only exposed us to breathtaking landscape imagery, but often garnered insight into the lives of birds and mammals rarely before seen.

In the end, Tom left us in the midst of another photographic adventure, this time trekking through the Rincon Mountains of Arizona; he was truly blessed to be doing what he loved. Tom's journey will continue on in spirit, now free to travel to every corner of the planet, no longer bound by earthly restraints."

Services will be held on Friday, July 25, 2008 at St. Francis-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church 600 S. LaCanada Drive, Green Valley, AZ 85614. Viewing will be from 1pm-2pm in the church with a service from 2-2:30pm and a celebration of Tom's life with refreshments, music, and viewing of his artwork in the Parish Hall beginning at 2:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, Dorothy Vezo, Tom's wife and best friend, is requesting that donations be made to the Defenders Committee of Friends of Madera Canyon P.O. Box # 1203 Green Valley AZ. 85622.