Joseph Zeltsman

(Daily Record)

JOSEPH ZELTSMAN
AGE: 100 MANCHESTER
Portrait photographer Joseph Zeltsman died peacefully at his home in Manchester, NJ on Dec 15, 2008. Recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Professional Photographers of America in 1994, Joe and his wife Martha co-owned the Zeltsman Studio in Morris Plains, NJ from 1960 to 1989. Prior to that, Joe owned the Zeltsman Photocraft Studio in Morristown, NJ. He taught his approach to "traditional classic portraiture" to hundreds of studio photographers during weeklong seminars at studios and institutes across the U.S. and Canada, and in Europe. (See the website: Ask the Ole Pro about photography.) Joseph was born in Philadelphia and spent his boyhood in Russia. He was very musical: a violinist in the Rumanian Army Orchestra in his early teens; and a professional musician playing woodwinds in Philadelphia dance bands, as well as the Glenn Miller unit of the Air Force during WWII.
Joe and Martha were married for 54 years until her death in 2006. Surviving are brother Isadore; children Stanley Zeltsman, Nancy Zeltsman, Helen Switzer Patterson, Will Scarlett Switzer, and Darryl Smith; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial gifts will be pooled to sponsor a concert 'In memoriam Joseph and Martha Zeltsman.' Send checks to "ZMF New Music" c/o Zeltsman Marimba Festival, 23 Van Winkle Street #3, Dorchester, MA 02124.