Guestbook

Les was a very, very kind and thoughtful man who will not be forgotten. We had a shared interest in Italy, and Florence in particular, though there was some thirty years distance between the period when he lived there with Claudia and my own time. The wall of his photos on the Home page shows "Eyes left!", a photo situation he said he tracked along the street until the right moment came. He sent me a copy of this as a 'prize' in one of his entertaining quiz questions on Nelsonfoto, so it is now on my dining room wall. Adjacent to that is his shot of the little cobbler's shop, which I went to track down along the banks of the river Arno on a subsequent visit to Florence. As one might guess, sixty years on it was no longer a shop - but it was still there! The link is on Les' "lesged" Flickr pages. I still have a camera lens that Claudia had spotted in a junk store and Les sent to me. There was no special reason for the gift but he knew the Biotar was a lens I'd appreciate, and as a natural-born mentor Les could not pass up an opportunity to share.

Formerly of Philadelphia, Boston, Colle d’val D’elsa Italia. First comment was oh, Lester! We first met in met Boston through Giovanni & antique camera collections!! What a wonderful man. Happy he is joined with his Claude.

Graham Serretta Hertfordshire, UK Graham.serretta@gmail.com grahamserretta.co.uk  It was my privilege to know Les and his wife Claudia and to call him "friend" for many years, although we never had the opportunity to meet in person.  Les was one of the finest people I have ever known and was a gentleman to his fingertips.  His loss will leave a great void in our lives.  I think of him often and recall many conversations with him on line and via e-mail.  I will cherish these memories.  Among his other talents, Les was a gifted photographer and leaves a vast body of valuable work. Rest in peace, Les.

In 1968 I was in Guanajuato, Mexico, with a national folk group doing a tour while the Olympic Games took place. In Pipila monument I waited my turn to take a picture, while a nice American family with a tall, lean, greying man with a beautiful wife and nice blond children was shooting away with a reflex camera, a few meters apart. Many years later, exchanging posts in Nelsonfoto forum, I learned that it must have been Les and his family. So, in a way, I had the privilege of meeting Les. All of us who met Les online will dearly miss him - not only his photography was wonderful; he came across as a warm, caring person, often with the right advice, humor and an appropriate story. All the best to his family, and be assured that Les will live in our memories.

I'm sorry for your loss. I only knew Les online. The photos in the album on this site are wonderful!

Dear Dan, Thank you for the notice. Our family is so sorry to hear about both of your parent’s passing. May they Rest In Peace. Thank you for the beautiful memorial website. Les’ photographs bring back so many memories of my childhood in Florence and Rome. Our parents were good friends. I’m also so grateful that Les sent me a few photos of my mother, also a photographer, a few years ago. He lived a rich life. Our condolences to his family.