Richard Shenk

Richard Shenk's wonder for the world led him on a life-long adventure in search of extraordinary detail in ordinary life.

It beckoned him repeatedly to Israel, the birthplace of his faith; tugged at reeled in his philanthropic heart and motivated him to create thousands of photographic prints, including some he shot in the company of legendary photographer Ansel Adams.

"He liked to suck the marrow out of life," explained one of his three sons, 42-year-old Jon Shenk, of San Francisco.

Mr. Shenk was a resident of Greater Cincinnati half of his life, first in Wyoming and then Hyde Park. For the last decade he lived in Snowmass, Colo.

He made a name for himself developing commercial and residential real estate in Tri-County, Forest Park and Green Hills.

A member of the Adath Israel Congregation in Amberley Village, Mr. Shenk served as president for the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati from 1996-1997 and volunteered time and money to the Talbert House, serving on its board of trustees.

He died Oct. 20 from complications due to surgery in Colorado, 3 ½ years after he was paralyzed in a plane crash while trying to land his personal aircraft in Louisville. He was 71.

A man who pushed his passions to the extreme, Mr. Shenk was an avid Marathon runner who for many years ran his age in miles from Middletown to Fountain Square on his birthday Jan. 26.

"He was an exciting brain, had this wonderful charisma and leadership ability," said good friend Stanley Chesley. "I still think of him as very much alive."

Mr. Shenk grew up in the affluent Columbus suburb of Bexley, one of three sons born to Sol and Florence Shenk. Sol Shenk was born on a boat to America when his parents emigrated from Russia, according to Mr. Shenk's children. Mr. Shenk's father also founded Consolidated Stores Corporation - known today as Big Lots - and built an empire of more than 700 stores with annual sales of roughly $1 billion, according to his 1994 obituary by a New York Times reporter.

After earning a business degree from Tulane University, Mr. Shenk moved to Cincinnati in the mid 1960s, and in the 1980s helped his father turn Consolidated Stores Corporation into a publicly traded company.

While he had business prowess, photography was his hallmark and he traveled the world taking photos in places like Cambodia and Peru. He showed his prints from time to time, even opened Images Gallery in O'Bryonville for a few years.

His sons remember going to abandoned buildings, the woods and other natural settings with their father, who always pointed out interesting patterns and shapes to them.

"He would say, "Do you see the outline of the unicorn?" or something like that," Jon Shenk said. "Abstractions were his specialty; he would go to his darkroom and develop the print in a way to bring out that shape."

He had an intense vision, said his youngest son, Joshua Shenk, 40.

"I think there's a very good chance, as time goes on, that his work will receive some greater recognition," Joshua Shenk said.

His children - all Wyoming High School graduates - are extensions of their father's creativity in of themselves. His eldest, 45-year-old David Shenk, is a non-fiction author who published "The Genius in all of Us" last year. Jon Shenk is a documentary film maker whose latest work "Island President" won People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival last month, while Joshua Shenk is a teacher and author of "Lincoln's Melancholy," published in 2005.

Even after he became disabled in the plane crash, Mr. Shenk learned to use a hand-operated bike and ski chair.

He was never at a loss for words and always up for a challenge, his friends and family say. He leaves behind his children, wife Betty Ann Shenk and six grandchildren.

"I got a call a number of hours after the plane crash telling me (his death) was not going to be long now, but I knew that wasn't going to happen," said good friend, Bob Baron, of East Walnut Hills. "I knew Dick's personality, how strong he was and how much he loved life."

Services have been held and the family asks that any memorials be sent in the form of a donation to Talbert House, 2600 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45206; Challenge Aspen, PO Box 6639, Snowmass Village, CO 81615 or the Jewish Federation, 8499 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.


Written by Carrie Whitaker | cwhitaker@enquirer.com