Thurman A. Lorick Jr., 83, photographer to African Americans in Philly
He specialized in taking pictures of students. He also photographed weddings, babies, and high-school graduation images for yearbooks.
Thurman A. Lorick Jr., 83, of Berwyn, a longtime photographer whose images were tucked into wallets or hung on walls as keepsakes in Philadelphia's African American homes, died Friday, June 23, of heart disease at his residence.
Starting in 1969, Mr. Lorick opened Thurman Studios from offices at 53rd and Chestnut Streets, where he maintained office hours Thursday and Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
He had hoped to log 50 continuous years in the one-man business, but had to settle for 48 due to health reasons, wrote his daughter, Monica Lee Lorick, in a family tribute.
"Thurman the Photographer," as Mr. Lorick was known, specialized in taking pictures of students. He also photographed weddings, babies, and high-school graduation images for yearbooks.
"Studio provides cap and gown in school colors, but you may bring your own," he stated on his website, www.thurmanstudios.net.
He made pictures of public figures, including former President Bill Clinton, the soprano Leontyne Price, astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn, Miss America contestants, and the actors Samuel L. Jackson and Will Smith. His picture of the singer Lou Rawls was used to create the artwork for an album cover, his daughter wrote.
A member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Mr. Lorick was especially proud to have photographed his fraternity brother the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., according to his daughter. His work appeared in the Inquirer, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Ebony, Jet, Modern Bride, Town and Country, and other national and local publications.
His true passion was taking pictures of typical Philadelphians and making them look gorgeous. "He prided himself on accurately capturing the myriad, beautiful hues of African American people," his daughter wrote.
A North Philadelphia native, he was the son of Wilma and Thurman Lorick Sr.
Mr. Lorick started taking pictures in his teens while a student at Northeast High School. After graduating in 1951, he honed his skills at Pennsylvania State University, where he studied history and geography. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1957.
He trained at the Eastman Kodak School of Photography in Rochester, N.Y., and at the Winona School of Professional Photography in Winona Lake, Ind. He was a member of the Professional Photographers' Association and traveled the country attending its conventions each summer.
While he built his business, Mr. Lorick taught fulltime at FitzSimons Junior High School in Philadelphia, where he rose to become head of the history department. He also taught history at John Bartram and William Penn High Schools. After teaching for 18 years, he retired from the School District to concentrate on photography.
He trained and mentored several young photographers and taught a noncredit photography course at Community College of Philadelphia.
Former employee Michelle Campbell met Mr. Lorick when she was 17. She assisted him in the studio with customer arrangements. "I've learned so much from him," she said. "He opened the door in so many ways. He taught me to always look at people in their eyes, and that honesty goes a long way with people."
When not in the studio, he enjoyed boating, fishing, following horse racing, and reading novels by Dick Francis. A persuasive talker, he was apt to "drive customer-service representatives crazy," his daughter wrote.
In 1961, he married Dolores T. Lorick, a teacher. The couple reared two children in Philadelphia and, later, Berwyn.
Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by son Thurman "Adam" III; a granddaughter; a sister; two nieces, and Judith Harris, a family friend whom he considered a second daughter.
Plans are pending for a memorial service on Saturday, Sept. 16. Burial will be private.