Bernie Faingold could drop names with the best of them.
The nationally known Denver photographer made portraits of dozens of the nation’s famous people, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Lyndon Johnson and Harry Truman.
Faingold, who died Friday at age 92, was perfectly perched with his studio in the former Hilton Hotel (now the Adam’s Mark) to photograph the notables who came through the door.
Just how he managed to steer all of them in isn’t known, his family members said. But one story they all remember.
King was staying there in 1964, and one day Faingold’s wife, Genevieve, quickly slid into an elevator with the civil rights leader and asked if her husband could photograph him.
King agreed and even stayed to visit.
King used the photograph on the cover of a book he wrote: “Why We Can’t Wait.” Genevieve Faingold “had the kind of attractive personality” that made it easy for her to strike up a conversation with anyone, said Stuart Kirk of Santa Fe, son-in-law of the Faingolds.
Faingold’s dignitary list was long and included Sen. Ted Kennedy, Red Buttons, Art Carney, Liberace, Eugene McCarthy, Nelson Rockefeller and Supreme Court Justice Byron White.
Faingold’s son, David Faingold, of Denver, recalls at age 11 going to the White House with his father to photograph President Johnson.
Bernie Faingold was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., on June 12, 1914.
He joined the Army and when he finished boot camp was about to be shipped to Europe. An accomplished flutist, saxophonist and piccolo player, he walked up to one of the officers and said, “I hear you need a piccolo player.”
The officer doubted Faingold could play one.
But Faingold had the instrument up his sleeve – literally. He auditioned on the spot and was sent to Fort Warren (now Warren Air Force Base) in Cheyenne.
“He would have been happy with a music career,” said his daughter, Cindy Phillips of Monument.
Faingold earned a degree in liberal arts at Regis College (now University) in Denver.
His father, Gus, had a photography studio in Grand Rapids. The younger Faingold trained there, starting out “sweeping the floors” and “lugging equipment to weddings and other assignments,” Bernie Faingold wrote.
After the Army, the younger Faingold set up a studio in Cheyenne and then moved it to Denver in the early 1960s.
He also played in a jazz band and met Genevieve Jiron, who liked the band. They married April 17, 1952.
In addition to his wife, daughter and son, he is survived by two other daughters, Fidelia Kirk of Santa Fe and Carole Gordon of Denver, and eight grandchildren.
Staff writer Virginia Culver can be reached at vculver@denverpost.com or 303-820-1223.
