Irving Haberman (1916-2003)
"Irving Haberman has quietly, steadily, put together a lifetime of superb work. His eye for the great shot, the impeccable quality of every photograph and the respect he earned from his subjects have made him a master of his craft".
- Dan Rather, Former Anchor, CBS News
"More than anyone else, Irving Haberman could capture the visual and the vision in each person he photographed, indelibly translating the drama of the moment into a picture."
- Fred Friendly, Former President, CBS News
Irving Haberman
Irving Haberman (June 1, 1916 - March 25, 2003) was one of the preeminent news photographers of the 20th century. Born in the Bronx, New York, he "shot 'em all" during an illustrious career that spanned nearly 50 years, including stops at the Brooklyn Eagle (1936-1939), PM (1941-1949) and CBS (1949-1985). He captured some of the most celebrated personalities and defining moments of the era, together with the struggles, aspirations and triumphs of ordinary people.
Haberman was awarded Photographer of the Year in 1969 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991, both from the New York Press Photographers Association. He was the exclusive photographer at the wedding of Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner in 1951, was on set for the first televised debate between Kennedy and Nixon in 1960, and served as Richard Nixon's official campaign photographer in 1968. His work has been published by Rizzoli in Eyes on an Era: 4 Decades of Photojournalism along with dozens of other books and magazines. His vintage and estate prints have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the country, including the International Center of Photography, Monroe Gallery and Steven Kasher Gallery.
Haberman became friends with many of the celebrities and newsmakers he shot over the years, but it was always his family that mattered most. He was married for 60 years to his wife Beulah and is survived by two daughters, four grandchildren and the legacy of his brilliant work.
