John “Dan” Elliott

Died Wednesday, February 21, 2007, at his home in Oppenheimer Place in Los Alamos at the age of 88. Dan was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 9, 1918. He graduated from Rockhurst High School in Kansas City.

He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Nell Elliott, his brother Frank Elliott and his sister, Dorothy Lasher.

Dan came to Los Alamos in 1949 with his family and served as a photographer at the lab until 1955, first as a junior photographer and eventually as acting group leader. His photo, named “Ranger Fox” was a pre-dawn airdrop atomic bomb that was published in U.S. News and World Report and hung in the White House during the time of President Harry S. Truman.

Dan purchased the Photo Shop in 1955 and served the public for 30 years taking school photos, passport pictures, indoor and outdoor portraits, wedding pictures for Los Alamos High School graduations for 30 years, film development, camera equipment and supplies, custom framing and Western Union.

Dan was a member of Professional Photographers of America for over 25 years and attended the Winona School of Photography for Advanced Portraiture and Color Printing. He received his Master of Photography in 2005. He was honored as a “Living Treasure” in 2004 and received his Master of Photography in 2005.

He served on the Los Alamos Education Group with other community members to address misinformation and explain the benefits of nuclear energy and use of nuclear resources. This group created a display located at the Bradbury Science Museum.

Dan and Marcelle have been active members of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish since 1949 where Dan served as a member of Knights of the Columbus.

Dan and Marcelle traveled throughout the United States, Europe, Africa and took numerous cruises. They enjoyed taking their RV on many adventures in the southwest and Mexico.

He is survived by his wife, Marcelle; his children: Joanne (Junius) Rochester of Seattle, Washington; Barbara (Paul) Macks of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Jeanne (Brian) Tracey of Santa Fe; Carol Wolk of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Brian (Cindy) Elliott of Colorado Springs, Colorado; 8 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren, 3 nieces and a nephew.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish at 3700 Canyon Road in Los Alamos.

Remembrances may be made to Los Alamos Historical Society for preservation of Dan’s photographic work, 1921 Juniper Street, P. O. Box 43, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544-0043.