Paul R. Turnbull

HEATH - Paul R. Turnbull, 75, passed away on Tuesday (3-11-14) at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, after a brief illness. A native of Arlington, MA, Paul was the son of the late Bertha Olsen and the late Robert Turnbull.
Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Janice Boudreau; two sons, Clay and wife Indra Tracy of Townshend, VT, son, Scott and wife Suzette; grandchildren Nicholas and Haley of Kittery, Maine. He also leaves his brother, Alan Turnbull and wife Donna of Endicott, NY, mother-in-Law, Elva Boudreau of Gardner, MA; brother-in-law Michael Boudreau and wife Lucy of Mullica Hill, NJ.
Following high school, Paul joined the Navy and served on an icebreaker in the Antarctic where he was introduced to photography and became a U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate.
Following his military service, he joined the firm of Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Grier, Inc. as Industrial Corporate Photographer. Following the filming of nuclear weapons testing detonations, he resigned; involvement was counter to his peace-loving nature, and respect for life.
Paul started his own photographic studio focusing on portraits, commercial and advertising photography. Eventually he located the studio, Tec Art Photography, in Chelmsford, MA. His love of teaching began with evening adult education classes at Nashoba Regional High School and later at NE School of Photography in Boston, MA.
In 1975, he assumed the role of Academic Department Head and Instructor at the newly formed Hallmark Institute of Photography in Turners Falls, MA, and made Heath his permanent home. He eventually became Executive Director in 1979 and served as President from 1986 to 1992.
Following retirement from Hallmark Institute, together with his wife Janice Boudreau, as Turnbull/Boudreau Photographers, he returned to Corporate, Editorial, Advertising and Stock Photography as well as photography for art museums, galleries, collectors and fine artists.
In 2005, as Inaugural Director and Curator of Hallmark Museum of Contemporary Photography in Turners Falls, MA, he mounted 16 exhibitions of renowned Photographers.
His photographs have appeared in the pages of National Geographic, Bon Appetite, Country Living, Attache, Time, Newsweek and hundreds of other magazines and news journals. Book illustration credits include, "The Perilous Sea" (Yankee Publishing), "Secrets of Serenity" (Running Press Publishing), "Insight Guide: Jamaica" (Insight Guides, London), among others.
Mr. Turnbull has been honored with 25 one-person gallery and museum exhibits and has had work included in over 30 group exhibitions. His expressive, often contemplative photographs are in numerous national and international public, institutional and individual collections. Lupine Gallery, Monhegan, Maine, Index Stock, Light Sources Stock and several other agencies represent him.
His meditative approach to camera work speaks to the restorative qualities of nature, the dignity of human history and an inexplicable quest for spiritual understanding.
A Memorial Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2014, at the Federated Church in Charlemont, MA, at 2 p.m.
Memorial contributions in Paul's name can be made to Insight Photography Project, 45 Flat St., Suite 1, Brattleboro, VT.