There were no parking spots available in the chapel parking lot at Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury on the evening of April 21.
Smiling faces were filling the room, each greeted with hugs and pats on the back.
After all, it was the late Jack Rosen’s 100th birthday.
Jack’s son, Rick Rosen, has made sure the famous New Hope photographer’s legacy never dies.
Rick put together his father’s birthday celebration to include the selling of his fund-raised book about his father as well as a screening of a documentary made about Jack before his passing in 2006.
Many guests were pouring over the book of Jack’s photography, laughing to one another as they recognized familiar faces from years past.
Jack began his photography in 1952 and his work is recognized all over the world, being featured in publications such as TIME and Life World Book.
Many of the most recognized photos included the celebration of Bastille Day at Odette’s and photos of famous musicians like Paul Whiteman, who visited New Hope.
In the book’s foreword, written by Rick, he mentioned that his father referred to himself as “New Hope’s oldest streetwalker” always sporting at least two cameras in hand.
Jack’s Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Community of New Hope was also on display.
“You challenge us to be independent thinkers,” the award read.
Many of Jack’s former neighbors were also in attendance, including Don Rhodes, who lived below Jack and his wife Florence in New Hope for years.
Jack fondly nicknamed Rhodes “Don-stairs” as his downstairs neighbor.
“Some people still call me that,” Rhodes said. “Jack was just loved in town, maybe not the most lovable because he could be found grumpy. But definitely the most loved.”
After drinks and book perusal, the Emmy-nominated documentary “Jack Rosen: Portrait of a Photographer” was screened.
Lisa Chouteau, the creator of the documentary was present for the celebration as well. She described how difficult it was to get Jack to sit for the documentary film.
“I had to ask him multiple times if he would sit down to be filmed,” Chouteau said. “He refused more than once. It was only after I mentioned how much this film would mean to his grandchildren, did he sit for it.”
Jack only sat twice for the filming of the documentary which highlighted his career as a photographer.
The documentary had close-up, personal interviews with Jack who discussed his connection to photography, family and New Hope.
After the film, Rick spoke to the small crowd.
Since his father’s death, Rick has been working on digitizing almost three-quarters of a million film strips that were left to him by his father. It has been a long and arduous process but, according to Rick, he is reaching his goals.
“I have wanted my father’s photos to be as well known and as widely known as possible. And I think we have achieved that,” he said.
As glasses rose in toast and celebration, a birthday song ensued.
“He was New Hope,” mentioned someone in the crowd.
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