[photo-3d] Seton Rochwite Obit.

["Allan Griffin" <agriffin@xxxxxxxxxx>]

TO:  Harold Baize AND all P3Ders

My Personal Tribute to Seton Rochwite - Allan Griffin
 
Thank you Harold for giving details of Seton's passing to us all.  I had my most recent letter from Seton last Christmas.  At that time he was able to report that he had no illness that he was able to put a name to, other than perhaps, the normal aches and pains brought on by increasing age.  In that respect, Seton was indeed fortunate.
 
Judy and I got to know Seton and Isabelle quite well over the years when we were regular attendants at PSA Conventions and the like in the US.  Such visits often included combined visits to the homes of Stereo Division regulars of the time.
We actually made it to Loveland, Colorado, to visit with the Rochwites on several occasions while we also included visits to friends in Denver.  I was interested to learn that Loveland was not necessarily a lovers paradise but was named after a railroad engineer during the construction of the main line from Chicago to Oakland, California, through Utah and Cheyenne to the north.

I remember well, way back in the early days, Seton had only just completed his add-on "Realist Polariser" project.  I was able to admire the care and attention to detail which went into the engineering and production.  Even the engraving which identified the three element attachment was done with infinite care.  On subsequent visits, after being offered one of his hallmark Dry Martinis, I always had to go down to the basement and look over his complete and most impressive small project workshop.  Seton was a most organised person.  His stereo-slide filing system was a wonder to behold when compared with my own and that of many others!  I was able to discuss at length details concerning the evolution of the Realist camera and the 4 X 1.5/8" Realist stereo slide format. Seton said:  "It was simple.  I just took a 4" lantern slide of the time and cut two slices off it of appropriate height"! 
 
Prior to this and at the same time, the makers of the French Verascope f-40 had settled for a 4.1/4" long 35mm standard stereo slide.  This was eventually dropped in favour of the Realist 4" format because of the sheer volume of the Realist popularity.  Seton never did acknowledge that my Verascope f-40 or Belplasca 7 perf format was a nice format in its own right and at one stage (25 years ago) he was visibly upset when he learned that I was shooting sports and hypers with my Konica Twin FS-1s.   He seemed to feel let-down if folks were not shooting 5 perf Realist exclusively!  After I learned this, I never again raised the subject of anything in the realm of wider formats but allowed the Realist to remain king in its realm, thus ensuring the continuity of our long friendship!  
 
As Ray Moxom mentioned, it is indeed rare to find an inventor who stayed with one of his inventions for life, enjoying the artistic and creative potential which it introduced into his life.  Further, Seton told me that the people who shot stereo (mostly in the ranks of Stereo Division - PSA) turned out to be his favourite people - people who proved to be those with whom he found a great deal in common.  The fact that he achieved Master Stereographer 1 level when more acceptances were required than is the case today, speaks for itself.  We were at the ''79 PSA event where Seton was awarded the Progress Medal for service to photography in general - and in particular, stereo.  His address to the PSAers present was a highlight.  With no notes, the address was from the heart, in parts emotional and in total eminently memorable.  The standing ovation was prolonged and heartfelt.
 
To close, may I simply say that my life has been the richer for knowing Seton Rochwite at the personal level as well as at the level of competitive stereo  photography.  I'm sure he would forgive the personal references above.  It was a privilege to know him.

Allan Griffin, Hon.PSA

 


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