The Passing of a Lovely Man

Darryl Strawser passed away Tuesday morning; we and the rest of the world have lost a lovely man. I never saw him without a smile on his face and his good humor was contagious to everyone. Everyone except perhaps the photo student who was being ripped apart for a poor photograph and who became a much better photographer because of Darryl's insightful criticism. Darryl left behind many aspiring and successful young people who took photographic giant steps from his influence and Darryl's ever vigilant persistence on perfection.

Yet he was not just an extraordinary teacher. First and foremost he was the most courageous person I have ever known. He battled a horrible disease for more years than anyone else. And he endured this battle somehow with amazing strength. I never heard him complain about his health although he and I spoke often about the logistics of coming to terms about the loss of our physical capabilities. Over the fifteen years Darryl taught at Miami Ad School, I saw his body, particularly his hands wither until he could no longer hold a camera. But that didn't stop him. He simply had a student hold the camera for him. And that for me is the lasting image, the symbolic image of Darryl Strawser, that I will always carry in my heart.

So while we all mourn the passing of a lovely man, we should be grateful that he is finally at peace, his suffering over at last.

- Ron Seichrist
Cofounder, Miami Ad School