His Photos Reflect our Community

Concord Monitor editor Mike Pride wrote a fitting tribute and one hell of a send-off to Dan Habib.

After nearly 20 years at the Monitor, the last 13 as photo editor, Dan Habib has left to pursue a career as a filmmaker. For us, it is as though a member of the family has moved out. For readers, it is a milestone, too.

Dan raised photojournalism at the Monitor to heights seldom reached by a newspaper our size. He seemed to lead the photo staff without effort, but there was always effort. He just figured out how to make a difficult job look easy.

It is hard to know where to begin to describe what Dan did for us and our readers, but the one trait that connects all his talents is humanity. He is the most decent person most of us know. His caring for others governed the way he dealt with the community and with his colleagues.

Hans Schulz, our city editor, described other qualities at the heart of Dan's work: "What comes to mind first are his integrity and ethics and his commitment to what we all love best about journalism: telling human stories honestly and in depth."

Dan loves the community and wanted the best for it. Photographically, he did everything in his power both to reflect and to expand the world of people who live here.

24 March 2008 by Melissa Lyttle

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