On Friday, May 13, some 500 people gathered at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Mayfair, London, to remember, celebrate, and lay to rest photojournalist and filmmaker Tim Hetherington.
Much has been written about Hetherington since his death in an explosion in Misurata one month ago, including on this website, but hearing the remembrances of so many who knew him–school friends, acquaintances, close family members, and colleagues from around the world–really bring home the far-reaching impact he had on those around him. As in his own photos, a sharp but multidimensional image emerged: Tim was a man who laughed; a man who cared for communities around him; a man who strove, pushing boundaries and excelling in his profession. He was one who recited Wordsworth; who believed that lives could improve the more we learn of the harm and suffering of the true experience of war. He was a man who cherished his relationships.
At Tim’s request, the family has asked for contributions in his name to be made to three organizations: the Milton Margai School for the Blind in Liberia, Human Rights Watch, and the Committee to Protect Journalists. We hope to do justice to his wishes and to the hundreds of other journalists around the world who have been killed, injured, and imprisoned while undertaking their dangerous, vital work.
(Reporting from London)