Evelyne Walborsky

Evelyne Wolf Walborsky, a Hungarian born photographer, art gallery owner and mother of four, died today at the age of 81. Ms Walborsky was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1928. She was raised in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia and Basel, Switzerland before fleeing Nazi-Europe with her family. She arrived in America on her 10th birthday. She said the sight of the Statue of Liberty was the best birthday present she ever received.

A graduate of Hunter College, she studied at the Sorbonne and University of Michigan before establishing herself as a young photographer in New York City. She apprenticed under Philippe Halsman ("here I learned to use the wastebasket") and Erwin Blumenfeld. Her portraits included Imogene Coca, Kevin and Mary McCarthy and Audrey Hepburn.

She married Florida State University chemistry professor Harry Walborsky in 1953 and together they had four children. After divorcing in 1965, Ms Walborsky returned to her photography, focusing on portraits and nature. Her photo of Russian artist Karl Zerbe is included in the portraits of famous immigrants on Ellis Island. She was particularly gifted at photographing children, capturing their essence without self-consciousness. Her photographs of nature appeared in a one-woman show at The LeMoyne Gallery of Tallahassee. "I once had an art teacher whose words, 'Look - and see', I took as a command. I learned in time that it is not enough simply to look. One must see. And I cannot fail to add, to see and to understand, one must think"

Moving to Tampa with her daughters in 1970, she eventually opened her own art gallery, bringing fine art to the Bay Area. She supported the Tampa Museum of Art, and until her death she was a season ticket holder at the Florida Orchestra and Straz Center for the Performing Arts. Her last ten years were challenging health-wise. But in spite of those challenges, she pursued her passion for the arts and Judaism. At the age of 80, she participated in a Bat Mitzvah at Temple Schaari Zedek where she had the honor of reading from a Torah that had been saved from a Czechoslovakian synagogue following World War II. With the support of several wonderful nurses, she was able to remain in her home until her death of cancer at the age of 81.

She is survived by her family, Edwin Walborsky of Pensacola, FL, Eric Gabby and Charlotte Walborsky of Bridgewater, NJ, Lisa Walborsky of New York, NY and Irene, Peter, and Emily Moss of Bedford, MA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to WEDU, 1300 North Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33607-5699, or by phone at (813) 254-9338 or online at https://www.wedutv.org/Form_Membership.aspx

A memorial service will be held at Congregation Schaarai Zedek in the near future.