Frank Dougherty

Frank C. Dougherty, age 69, a career war photojournalist turned suburban dad, passed away peacefully on August 22nd in the house his family owned for nearly 80 years.

In his final days, family and friends visited Dougherty in a sunny room covered in the images that chronicled his life: black and white photos of immigrant workers, Marines in Lebanon, Irish rebels, angry refugees…and color photos of cheerful teenage daughters atop Rocky Mountain peaks.

The black and white photos tell the story of photojournalism in the last days of film photography. Dougherty lived out of a suitcase from 1970 to 1984, jetting between the Middle East, Central and South America and back to New York to file photos. As a career freelance photographer, he sprinted to war zones and chronicled images of victims, crusaders and peacemakers. Dougherty’s photos appeared in Newsweek, The New York Times and the Associated Press.

Dougherty felt that photographic images were the best way to show the world what atrocities were happening and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his work. But people meant more than prizes. Dougherty talked about his friends he lost when anyone mentioned his Newsweek cover photo showing conflict in the middle east. Dougherty and fellow AP photographer, William Foley, were the first newsmen on the scene that October 1983 morning when a truck bomb destroyed U.S. marine headquarters.

“Frank witnessed horrific acts,” Foley said. “He was a wonderful photographer, with an interesting take on world events. “I remember clearly, Frank on the battlefield, wearing his bandana, covered in Nikons, attempting to give a PLO commander a lesson in politics.”

Dougherty witnessed happy events too, covering Pope John Paul’s visit to Ireland and the wedding of American-born Queen Noor in Jordan. His stories took him to the homes of politicians and celebrities.

By 1995, Dougherty had packed away his flack jacket and moved back to his family’s Highland Park, NJ home. Summer vacations were spent touring America with daughters Chelsea and Gwen. He transitioned easily from sniper zone photographer to suburban soccer dad, but he found it more difficult to surrender film for digital photography.

To say Dougherty loved film would be an understatement. As the work replaced Fujichrome and Ektachrome with compact flash cards, Dougherty – kicking and screaming – bought the necessary equipment. He continued to work for several years as a regional freelance photographer for the The New York Times and New Jersey newspapers.

Dougherty attended The Citadel and Rutgers University. He was a lifetime member of the Highland Park Volunteer Fire Department and a former communicant at St. Paul the Apostle R.C. Church in Highland Park.

Frank was pre-deceased by his parents Frank A. and Cecelia N. Dougherty.

He is survived by his two daughters, Chelsea and Gwen, former wife, Anna Simmons, life-long friends; George Willan, Brenda Barton and William Davis, and a dedicated community of neighbors and friends.

Relatives and friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday and from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Jaqui-Kuhn Funeral Home, 17 South Adelaide Avenue, Highland Park. A Funeral Liturgy will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul the Apostle R.C. Church, Highland Park. Interment will follow at New Calvary Cemetery, Parlin, N.J.

Funeral Liturgy

10:00 a.m. ,Wednesday, August 25, 2010
St. Paul the Apostle R.C. Church
502 Raritan Avenue Highland Park, NJ 08904

Calling Hours

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. ,Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Jaqui-Kuhn Funeral Home
17 South Adelaide Avenue Highland Park, NJ 08904

Calling Hours

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. ,Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Jaqui-Kuhn Funeral Home
17 South Adelaide Avenue Highland Park, NJ 08904

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