Douglas Lyttle

At age 98, a former resident and business owner in Kalamazoo, Michigan, entered his eternal rest on Friday, November 3, 2017 with family and friends at his bedside. Lyttle was born July 7, 1919 in Three Rivers Michigan to Stephen and Ruth (Marshall) Lyttle. The family eventually moved to Saginaw, Michigan where his father was a teacher and served as principal of Saginaw High. Lyttle attended University of Michigan, graduating cum laude in 1941 with honors in chemistry and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Lyttle had opted for a chemistry degree knowing it would be excellent preparation to pursue his passion and goal for becoming a professional photographer. Lyttle began his career as pharmaceutical research chemist, first at Merck in New Jersey followed by the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo. He launched a full-time venture into professional photography in the early 1950's, resigning from Upjohn Company to open "Douglas Lyttle, Photographer," a studio in partnership with his wife Margaret who managed the business. In addition to customary photography work, it wasn't long before he was designated the exclusive photographer for portraits of Upjohn Company executives, followed by a wide variety of commercial photography assignments that included nationally recognized architectural firms as well as a growing list of contracts for advertising illustration with firms such as Selmer Instruments, Archway Cookies, Aid Association for Lutherans, and more. At the time of his passing, Lyttle was Professor Emeritus in the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology, having been a beloved teacher of photography from 1969 to 1984. Lyttle always dedicated time to studying and perfecting his craft. Among numerous awards and professional accomplishments, he achieved the "Master of Photography" degree from the Professional Photographers of America. While accomplished in all types of photography with an extraordinary eye for light, shadow and composition, Lyttle had a gift for people images, both candid and posed. He had an innate ability to engage and connect with people, an innocence and sincerity that charmed them, allowing him to capture the authentic essence of each person. His proudest achievement and most notable legacy work is displayed in the book he authored, Miracle on the Monastery Mountain, published in 2002. The book is a result of 22 extended visits to the Holy Mountain of Athos between 1972 and 1998. It is a documentary in words and stunning photographs of the monastic culture of Mt. Athos. It began with photo journalistic curiosity but rapidly evolved into Lyttle's spiritual pilgrimages and a conversion to Greek Orthodoxy. The book chronicles the sweeping change in monastic life from a period of decline through 20 years of physical and spiritual rebirth on Mt. Athos. He built life-long relationships with the monks gave who lovingly welcomed him even as a non-Greek. Lyttle was given permission to photograph and participate in aspects of monastic life, resulting in a remarkable literary and visual record of the people, places, and meaning of monastic life. Lyttle was predeceased by his wife Margaret Ann in 1990; his second wife Vivian in 2013; brothers Marshall and Robert; and considering his long, full life, also numerous other relatives and close friends. He is survived by three daughters: Judith Nelson (James) of Tucson Arizona; Janet Chobanian (Michael) of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Marsha Lyttle (Michael Pidek) of Owosso, Michigan. He enjoyed many family vacations surrounded by his children and an assortment of his 9 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Funeral services were held in Rochester, New York. Burial will take place in Bellevue, Michigan.