Houston Camera Club

Matt passed away at St. Lukes Hospital in Houston at 2pm Friday the 22nd of January.

There are different kinds of photo club members.  There are those who are flashy about their photography and make a big show of entering the most photos in every available competition, but contribute little to the operation or success of the club, because they "don't have the time".  Then there are a few people like Matt, who are always there doing the things that have to be done, but which are without sufficient volunteers.  People who contribute to the club without concern about how much they get back.

Matt is always there.  If there is a program meeting with no one volunteering to bring snacks, there is Matt with a Tupperware(r) tub of cookies.  A few years ago, when digital was new and the club was short on funds, Matt stepped up and bought the club a digital projector.  Did he ask for anything in return?  A medal?  A trophy?  Even dues exemption?  No.  He even objected to mention of the fact that the "club's" projector was thanks to his generosity.

Yet through all this, Matt managed to take a few photos now and again.  No, he didn't enter the sixty or eighty or so possible competition photographs each year.  He entered just a few.  I guess, unlike those too busy taking photographs to help the club, he was too busy helping the club to take so many photographs.  Yet, virtually every year-end competition left a Matt Daura photograph among the winners.

Matt's willingness to pitch in and do what was needed was not limited to Houston Camera Club.  Gulf Coast Camera Club Council and Photographic Society of America also count Matt as one of the few who all knew they could count on...and did for many, many years.

Matt will be missed.  Please click here for remembrances.