Longtime Hartford Courant photographer John Long dies at 81

John Long, an acclaimed photographer at The Hartford Courant for 35 years who was known for his photos of everything from ballet to sports, died Monday after a long illness. He was 81.

Known as an excellent photographer and a gracious colleague to hundreds of journalists through the years, Long covered major events both locally and beyond, including the fortunes of the Hartford Whalers, the Greater Hartford Open before the name changed several times, and the Masters golf tournament five times. He covered political conventions in numerous locations, along with breaking news assignments from hurricanes to snowstorms.

Working regularly on Thanksgiving Day, Long became a longtime fixture at the Manchester Road Race, and he later was named the race’s official photographer.

In a career of accolades, Long was honored with induction into the Connecticut Journalism Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Manchester Sports Hall of Fame, in addition to twice being named Connecticut Photographer of the Year.

He also served as president of the National Press Photographers Association for two years and as chairman of its ethics committee for 25 years. He won the association’s Joseph Sprague Memorial Award, the association’s highest honor.

Long worked from 1971 to 2006 when The Courant’s photo department was nationally recognized with well-known photographers that included John Woike, Brad Clift, Michael Kodas, Cloe Poisson, Shana Sureck, Sherry Peters, Stephen Dunn, Rick Hartford, Rich Messina, Patrick Raycraft, Michael McAndrews, Mark Mirko, and many others.

Patrick Raycraft / Hartford Courant

Longtime Courant staff photographer John Long reminisces as he cleans out The Courant’s photo department with fellow staff photographer Cloe Poisson in preparation for a move at 285 Broad Street in Hartford in May 2009.

Long’s former colleagues at The Courant posted numerous tributes on Facebook that hailed their friend for his talents and his grace.

“The world has lost one of the greatest ballet photographers to grace our lives and one of the best examples of decency, compassion, integrity and joie de vivre,” said Joe Nunes, a longtime Courant editor.

During retirement, Long wrote, “For the past two years, I have been working on editing the thousands of ballet photos in my collection. The result is this book, Romance of the Dance.”

Former Sporting News photographer Albert Dickson wrote, “As a young photographer, I was very fortunate to join a staff led by John as our chief at the Courant. I proudly display signed prints of John’s exquisite ballet photography in my home. I cherish the memories of John overseeing a staff of such talented malcontents.”

Former Courant political editor Rick Green described Long as “a great colleague from a unique moment in time.”

HARTFORD The Hartford Ballet performed many Balanchine pieces over the years including “Serenade”. Left to right are Tara Donagher, Harmony Clair and Margaret Ritter. (Courant photo by John Long)

Longtime Courant photographer John Long was known for his photos of ballet. This photo is from 1996 as the corps worked in this Hartford Ballet production. Before the second act opened, the dancers gathered on stage as the theatrical smoke was set by the stage hands. The dancers talked and then got their costumes ready for the curtain.

HARTFORD Debra Collins Ryder posed in the studio for a simple yet classic ballet pose. (Courant photo by John Long)

Caption: NEW HAVEN 8.18.98 Pilot Pen Tennis- The day was hot and humid, then the sky opened and the lightning flashed and the crowds ran for shelter, except for a few who enjoyed the rains. ( Courant photo by John long) Photographer: John Long Credit: The Hartford Courant City: New Haven State: CT Date: 19980818

Pilot Pen International tennis tournament at the Connecticut Tennis Center in New Haven.

HARTFORD,CT 2/7/80- Hartford Civic Center shot from rafters. John Long / The Hartford Courant

Published caption: This view from the catwalk of the new roof of the civic center shows the trusses and beams of the arena. Below the lineups of the Hartford Whalers and the Los Angeles Kings prepare fopr the opening night faceoff.

Caption: NEW YORK 9.24.97 THE CLOISTERS is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to art of the Middle Ages and situated on the Hudson River just above the George Washington Bridge. This is the Fuentiduena Chapel. (in color) (Courant photo by John long) Photographer: John Long Credit: The Hartford Courant City: New York State: NY Date: 19970925 ORG XMIT:

HARTFORD 4/12/03 Brianna Clark, 14, from Preston, who dances with the Eastern CT Ballet, takes a master class at the Learning Corridor during the CT Dance Alliance Statewide Festival 2003. Events in the festival took place at the Learning Corridoe and the Bushnell. (Courant photo by John long ) digital

HARTFORD 2.24.00 ‘Romeo & Juliet’ by Dance Connecticut opened Thursday evening at the Bushnell for four performances in what could be a turning point for the company. Financial concerns for the dance company rebuilt from the old Hartford Ballet make this an important weekend for Dance Connecticut. Romeo (Timothy Melady) has just discovered Juliet (Laura Urgelles) apparenty dead and in his grief he commits suicide. Juliet wakes up to find Romeo dead and kills herself too. (Courant photo by John long) digital

Caption: HARTFORD 11.17.98 Denise Leetch-Moore as the Sugar Plum Faerie Queen and Timothy Melady as her Cavalier willbe featured this year in the Hartford Ballet’s production of ‘The American Nutcracker’ to be presented at the Bushnell over the Thanksgiving weekend. (Courant photo by john long) Photographer: John Long Credit: The Hartford Courant City: Hartford State: CT Date: 19981117

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HARTFORD 2.29.00 Dance Connecticut presented ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at the Bushnell the last weekend of February. Dancers wait in the wings for their turn on stage. (Courant photo by John Long) digital

HARTFORD 11.15.99 Dance Connecticut has replaced the Hartford Ballet but the rehearsal space is the same, and they will doing the Nutcracker again this Christmas season at the Bushnell. . (Courant photo by John long)

alled HARTFORD Ted Hershey at the Hartford Ballet studios in Hartford. portrait made early 90’s. (Courant photo by john Long) ORG XMIT: Color photo used

Caption: HARTFORD 4.29.98 The Hartford Ballet is presenting ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ with music by Tchaikovsky and choreography by Kirk Peterson, artistic director of the Hartford Ballet, at the Bushnell Thursday through Sunday, April 30 to May 3. Alissa Wassung (cq), 16, of Torrington, student trainee with the Hartford Ballet, is dancing in the segment called the Garland Dance. (Courant photo by John Long) Photographer: John Long Credit: The Hartford Courant City: Hartford State: CT Date: 19980429

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Caption: HARTFORD 11.25.98 The Hartford Ballet is presenting ‘The American Nutcracker’ Thursday through Sunday at the Bushnell. As the ballet nears its conclusion, Lotta Crabtree (the little girl Clara in traditional renditions of the Nutcracker) played here by Amara Watkin-Anson, in the center rear, watches as the collection of dancers does its final whirl around the little girl bringing her Christmas Eve night to an end. In the foreground is Sugar Plum Fairy Laura Urgelles, left, and her cavalier Victor Carnesolta . (Courant photo by john long) Photographer: JOHN LONG Credit: THE HARTFORD COURANT City: HARTFORD State: CT. Date: 19981125

Caption: HARTFORD 12.10.97 ‘The American Nutcracker’ by The Hartford Ballet now running at the Bushnell features performances by two young girls with impressive dance heritages, Megan Giroir and Amara Watkin-Anson, two of the four the young ladies who play Lotta Crabtree (the new Clara role) during the run of the ballet. Both have mothers who perfomed in the old Nutcracker by the Hartford Ballet in the late 70’s and 80’s. This is Amara’s mother Robyne Watkin dancing the Sugar Plum Fairy. (Courant photo by John Long) Photographer: John Long Credit: The Hartford Courant City: Hartford State: CT Date: 19971212 ORG XMIT:

Caption: HARTFORD 2.14.97 Cheryl Madeux and Carlos Molina are the two central dancers in this image. Kelly Leonardi is in the upper left. This is from ‘Evening’, choreographed by Graham Lustig and which is part of the Dynamic Directions program being presented by the Hartford ballet. (Courant photo by john long) Photographer: John Long Credit: The Hartford Courant City: Hartford State: CT Date: 19970217 ORG XMIT:

HARTFORD Joseph Albano and his Albano Ballet Company trained one of the most famous dancers to come out of Connecticut, Paul Russell, who is posing with Cynthia Bulaong in a photo with simple yet elegant lines. (Courant photo by John Long)

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HARTFORD 1980’s Dancers wear out slippers and toe shoes very quickly (toe shoes usually are only good for one day). Victoria Vaslett is in the studios of The Hartford Ballet working very hard there to make it look easy on stage later. (Courant photo by John long)

WEST HARTFORD 7.13.01 Geneva Milner of East Hartford brought her grandkids, Denzell Booker, 6, who we can see, and Jonelle Holden, 3, who we cannot see, both of East Hartford, to feed the ducks and geese at Elizabeth Park on a quiet summer afternoon Friday. (Courant photo by John long) digital

Caption: MADISON 4.30.97 It was a warm and sunny day and the nice weather brought people to the beach- at Hammonasset State Park in Madison. Lorelei Turner, age 5, left, of Ansonia, is throwing sand in the air to see where the wind will take it. She is joined by her sister Freyja Turner, (cq), age 2 , in the red, on the right, and Sean Gesner, age 3, of East Haven, in the center with the hat, half hidden. (Courant photo by John Long) Photographer: John Long Credit: The Hartford Courant City: Madison State: CT Date: 19970430 ORG XMIT:

Caption: HARTFORD 5.6.97 Moments before the thunderstorm rolled into Hartford, the last rays of the sun made the state capitol shine against the dark clouds of the storm. (Courant photo by john long) Photographer: John Long Credit: The Hartford Courant City: Hartford State: CT Date: 19970506 ORG XMIT:

Caption: WEST GRANBY 8.14.97 Farm Day (Thursday) at Holcomb Farm is the culmination of the summer camps held at the farm. The Fur and Feathers Preschool kids are listening to Julie Carroll, their teacher, read from ‘Froggy Gets Dressed’. John Stingle, 3, of Granby center, is deeply engrossed in the story. (Courant photo by John Long) Photographer: John Long Credit: The Hartford Courant City: West Granby State: CT Date: 19970814 ORG XMIT:

Caption: CANTON 5.1.97 It’s May 1, 1861 and Sam Colt’s Fifth Conn. Volunteer Infantry has encamped at the Canton Intermediate School. –The Civil War was a six week unit for the entire fifth grade at the school and as the culmination of the studies, the kids staged a Civil War encampment on the school grounds. They made their own costumes, tents, flags and finished with a charge not unlike Gettysburg. Lisa Bush of the fifth grade holds the flag for the big charge. (Courant photo by John long) Photographer: John Long Credit: The Hartford Courant City: Canton State: CT Date: 19970501 reenactment ORG XMIT:

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HARTFORD The Hartford Ballet performed many Balanchine pieces over the years including “Serenade”. Left to right are Tara Donagher, Harmony Clair and Margaret Ritter. (Courant photo by John Long)

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Manchester upbringing

John Cooper Long, Jr. was the son of the late John and Jane Long of Manchester. He and his wife of 57 years, Mary, raised three daughters: Susan Long Patrick (Mark) of Washington, D.C.; Maureen Long of New London; and Maggie Long Scroope (Henry) of Granger, Indiana. John was the grandfather of Mallory Patrick; Morgan and Sean Scroope; and Henry Scroope V, who predeceased him.

He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Dolce of Springfield, Virginia and was predeceased by his sister, Terry Long.

Known to his family as “Boe,” John moved to Manchester at the age of 4 and lived there for much of his life. He and Mary moved two years ago to Leisure World in Silver Spring, Maryland.

In his younger days, John spent six years at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, where he graduated in 1964, before heading to St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore for one year.

John Long NPPA Ethics Committee retirement photo Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at the “Whaling Wall” mural in New London, Conn. (Sean D. Elliot)

While attending The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., he met his future wife, Mary Malloy, before graduating in 1967. Her brother is the Rev. Edward “Monk” Malloy, the nationally known president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame.

Before joining The Courant more than 50 years ago, Long taught religion and English at East Catholic High School in his hometown of Manchester.

Through the years, Long taught journalism and ethics at nearby Manchester Community College and for two semesters at the famed Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. He also published two books and was a devoted Notre Dame football fan who consistently watched games on Saturday afternoons where his brother-in-law served as president from 1987 to 2005.

An avid golfer who loved the game, his family noted that Long was still striving for a hole-in-one after 60 years of golf.

Friends may call on Monday, Jan. 5 from 10 am to 11:30 a.m. at the John Tierney Funeral Home on West Center Street in Manchester. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Bridget’s Parish on Main Street in Manchester at noon on Monday.

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com

https://www.courant.com/2025/12/31/longtime-hartford-courant-photographer-john-long-dies-at-81/