There was an enigmatic post on the LFF (the Large Format Photography Forum) four days ago that Howard Bond had passed away "during the night" at the age of 93, with no source or further information given. Normally, I don't report deaths or write appreciations of people who've died until I've seen an official or (these days, with newspapers in decline) at least a semi-official obituary, or gotten confirmation from a relative or close friend of the decedent. However there has so far been no obituary online, and Howard had no official online presence where the family might have made a formal announcement.
Does anyone know the name of the town where Howard has been living? That might help. My memory from years ago is that he lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but that might be wrong or out of date. I've written to the newspaper there.
If anyone has any information about Howard, I'd appreciate it if you would contact me, here or via email. I won't publish your comment if you request that I not do so.
Thanks for any help.
Mike
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check replies to the LFF posting, apparently he was living in an assisted living home in Ann Arbor, MI.
Posted by: phil | Thursday, 18 July 2024 at 12:09 AM
If Howard has died, he would have been 92, not 93. His date of birth is 23 July 1931.
Voltz
Posted by: V.I. Voltz | Thursday, 18 July 2024 at 10:30 AM
The Museum of Contemporary Photography page on him lists Chicago as his place of residence, if that helps track down information on him. Page is dated 2022.
https://collections.mocp.org/mpp/past/bond_howard.php
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick Perez | Thursday, 18 July 2024 at 11:33 AM
Maybe I'm a bit strange, but I do find it unusual that since the most compelling and likely influential press photographs of the last, what 60+ years, were published earlier this week there has been radio silence here. I mean, this is meant to be a photography website. And sure, I think Vance was right in his earlier assessment of Trump and therefore don't like giving him publicity but still: Nothing? Nothing is said about this? Just a bit odd is all.
Posted by: Patrick Dodds | Thursday, 18 July 2024 at 03:30 PM
Several attendees of Howard's workshops gave their experiences of his teaching and personality here:
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?7695-Howard-Bond-s-Refinements-in-B-W-Printing-Workshop
Posted by: Rod S. | Thursday, 18 July 2024 at 07:18 PM
See The Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago
They have him living in Chicago.
Perhaps they have more information
[I believe that's an error being perpetuated by repetition. At least, if he ever lived in Chicago, it had to have been earlier than 1994.
Thanks for passing along the info, however. --Mike]
Posted by: Rod Franklin | Thursday, 18 July 2024 at 09:04 PM