ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Dan Young, director of CNN/US's field operations, died Sunday after a battle with leukemia. He was 47. During 24 years at CNN, he worked as a photographer on some of the biggest and most dangerous assignments of his time.
He covered the bombing of the U.S. Embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983, the Gulf War in 1991, space shuttle launches, numerous political campaigns and conventions. His images from those and many other stories ended up on TV sets watched by millions of people the world over.
As his coworkers heard the news of his death, they remembered his work, of course, but more often than not, their memories were of Dan Young, the man: His smile and his sense of humor, his dedication to his work and family, his joy for life and his care for those around him. Here are some of the memories they shared:
My first assignment with Dan was in 1992. We traveled deep into the jungles of Peru for a series of reports on the Amazon rainforest. Those were four grueling days of relentless insects, stifling heat and the inevitable consequences of eating the local food. Dan's smile however never dimmed. To him, it was all just part of the fun. As the shoot wrapped, we were taking our last trip upriver. Dan asked me several times, "Are you sure we're done?"... like he had something up his sleeve. When I confirmed he could finally put the camera down, Dan yelled to our guide to stop the boat. Before anyone could ask why, Dan dove head-first and disappeared into the swift Amazon current. I can still hear his laugh as he emerged, swallowing a mouthful of the muddy water and daring any of the nearby piranha to try and take a bite. Dan's enthusiasm was contagious. We all soon followed his lead by taking the plunge, predators and parasites be damned. I was still new to CNN at the time and I learned a lot from Dan on that trip. This wasn't a job for him, it was his life. And he tried to get the most out of every moment. But what impressed me most came a few days later. Dan sent a long letter to Chet Burgess (my boss at the time) describing in glowing detail how the rookie correspondent handled himself on a difficult shoot. Truth is, Dan made it easy and I've been trying to follow his example ever since.
David Mattingly
I first met Dan in 1985 when I was an entry-level employee fresh out of Ohio University. We had an immediate connection because we were both from Ohio and attended the same college. Dan was everything I aspired to be ... a network cameraman, and a damn good one. He was the first photographer I worked with and our first trip together was to Memphis for the anniversary of Elvis's death. He was eager to teach me everything he knew ... and that never changed, 21 years later. Most important is that Dan was a true friend, a genuine friend. He always made an effort to stay close. He came to my wedding shower, my wedding, my oldest son's baby shower, my 40th birthday party. I trusted him ... I respected him ... I will sorely miss him.
Stuart Clark
I had a secret joy when it was time to call on Dan Young. Because I always knew he was smiling on the other end. It was like he embraced every request as a challenge, even the ones that made him roll his eyes and give you that look of "you want what????" He never really said no to anything. Not to the request for a videographer that wasn't available, not to using his brand new gizmo camera, not to teaching me how to do time lapse, teaching me how to use infrared, teaching me how to do pretty much anything. And when no one else would step up to the challenge -- or was available -- Dan would just do it himself. He was the only one to come through for us when we needed him most -- when we needed shots of people sleeping for a sleep special. He not only took on the challenge when no one else would, but he snuck around his house in the dark, late at night, to get shots of his wife and son in deep slumber, and he did it artistically, and thoughtfully. His smile, his generosity and his presence are irreplaceable. I hope he is sleeping peacefully.
Susan Mittleman
Dan would always find a way to make it "work for you," no matter how strapped he was for time, equipment, or dealing with other people's "need this now" panic. Late afternoon, October 27, 2001: Dan was pinned to the wall to find me a PD150 on short notice...it was after 9/11 and every piece of gear was scattered to the four corners of the world. There was a dusty camera brought back from Afghanistan that needed repair. ..but we were leaving that night for South America to do a story on terrorism in the triborder area ... There was no time and no equipment left in Atlanta. We were desperate. Dan turned around and said: "Wait, I've got you covered. Give me 20 minutes." I was running around doing last minute preparations and not in my office when Dan dropped the gear off. A neatly packed kit was on the floor -- I noticed the name tag: Dan Young. He'd given me the last PD150 and gear he had left: his own.
Ingrid Arnesen
A year ago, when Atia Abawi was an entry level VJ, she had an opportunity to take a personal trip to Afghanistan and try her hand at photojournalism. While it was not a CNN trip, we still wanted her to have the basic training to be able to make the most of her experience. As a favor, I asked Dan to spend a little time with her on how to operate the DV camera. We were very short on time and had scheduling conflicts so Dan only got a few minutes with her. This, apparently, wasn't satisfactory to Dan. He created a blog page for her that she could access during her trip that explained shooting fundamentals. "He only knew me for an hour and went that far out of his way," Atia said. "I will always hold my few but wonderful memories of him close to my heart. The last of which was bumping into him and his lovely wife and son at Turner night at Six Flags carrying a life-size Scooby Doo stuffed animal on his shoulder with a huge smile on his face. Or how he pretended to like my bland tasting 'thank u' brownies." When I was heading off to adopt my first child from Russia, Dan appeared on my doorstep with his video camera packed and ready to go. "Are you ready for your lessons?" He proceeded to train me like a professional and when I returned from Russia he snapped up the video and converted it all without a word. I share these stories because while so many think of Dan as an outstanding photojournalist, he had become an exceptional manager and teacher. As he slowly came in off the road and as his management role grew, he thrived, as he got great satisfaction in helping to make people better at their craft. He loved the art of photography and he was an exceptional coach. Dan was a beloved and respected leader because he was a master of his craft, he cared enough to help people feel good about their abilities, he had unparalleled energy and he was compassionate and fair and funny. He would do anything I asked of him with a small on his face. I may have been his boss, but he taught me so much about the field, about being an advocate for people in the field, about human nature and about life. I wish I had thanked him one more time. I will miss my dear friend and colleague.
Cindy Patrick
It is not one specific memory, it is a cumulative one. Dan, eyes gleaming, smile forming, coming out of his seat, moving out of his office. He had an idea he wanted to try on me. Henry, come here, I've got something for you. Was he going to pull my leg or was this for real? This was going to be the camera of the future, he might say, and it could as easily be something made out of a Lego as a new HD gizmo. That was what was so great. Dan was never dull. Every time I came to him with a request, I always tried to tempt him back out of the office, into the field. He was a news guy, not a news-acrat, but that didn't keep him from taking care of his folks with ferocity. I remember introducing him to a friend who had fought the same sort of lymphoma that his brother had. They talked for almost an hour, and kept in touch afterwards. He cared. About everything. About everyone.
Henry Schuster
Dan was the classic CNN success story. He joined the network at an entry-level position, but soon became a photojournalist traveling the world, shooting video for CNN ... The memory I will always share with Dan is he was the photographer for the two weeks that I spent covering Bono's trip across Africa with Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill back in 2002 ... Four countries, 17 cases of equipment and more memories and stories than I could even begin to tell you. They will last forever. We all remember Dan as a dear friend and colleague. This picture -- this was at a clinic in Uganda. One of the patients was playing guitar and Dan grabbed it and wanted a turn, even though he didn't know how to play guitar. That was his spirit. That was Dan. He leaves behind his son Jake and wife, Marty, a twin brother and many other family members and friends who loved him very, very much. We express our deepest sympathies to Dan's family.
Daryn Kagan
I've had the great pleasure to have known and worked closely with Dan Young for the past 5 years. The thing I remember most fondly about Dan is how spirited and enthusiastic he was about broadcast journalism and his passion for working at CNN. Dan was a pioneer, mentor and teacher to so many here. Myself included. Any manager would be proud to have received half as much positive and respectful feedback from their staff as Dan did. Dan loved and admired his team and they in turn, loved and respected him more than he would ever want to take credit for. Dan Young made a difference in the world and at CNN through his often brilliant work as a photojournalist but more importantly, by setting an example of teamwork, fairness and respect that will be a lasting memory and lesson for all that knew and loved him. I will miss my friend.
John Courtney
Dan was as inspiration to so many people here at CNN over the past 25 years. His neverending exuberance for life and excitement about this crazy profession was just infectious. Whether you were an intern or an executive he treated you the same with a big smile and lots of respect. Many mornings I would round the corner and Dan would be in the equipment room on the 7th Floor and I would say "morning Dan..how are you?" and he would respond with this huge smile and that sparkle in his eye and joy in his voice "I'm GREAT!"..and he would pick me up just by that hello. Just two weeks ago Friday I called over to photo pool because I had a college student with his parents here, and the student wanted to be in production. I asked if there were any PJ's around and five minutes Later Dan showed up with his cup of coffee and he sat down and talked to this young man about what a great business this is and how to get his foot into the door. He had so much enthusiasm and encouragement for this college kid...and he kept coughing ..and even apologized for having a cold he could not get rid of. Dan left a huge impression on this young man and his family and I'm sure this was probably the millionth time he had done something like this in his life. We will all miss him very much.
Marylynn Ryan
Dan was one of those photographers everyone wanted to shoot their stories. He had a wonderful attitude to match his skill with the camera.
Diane Hawkins-Cox
Dan Young was the most amazing man. He was fair in all that he did here at CNN. Not long ago he e-mailed me and asked "Steve, when was your last overseas trip?" I responded that I was overseas for the pope's funeral. Then Dan said "Have you ever been to Brazil?" I told him that I graduated from high school in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. He then told me "pack your bags 'cause you're going to Sao Paulo." Every day Dan would arrive at the office and stop by my desk to see how I was doing. He'd ask me what I needed to make my work life easier. Then he'd actually get whatever I requested. He was truly one in a billion. Dan was my boss, but foremost my friend. I am heartbroken to no longer have him near. I will miss my friend.
Steve Sorg
Regardless of what it was, how hard it would be, and how impossible the logistics, when we asked, Dan said he could do it and then made it happen. He was a such a pro and such a gentleman...(and only once in a while prodded when he needed all those reviews). We lost a great colleague . The larger world lost a great and decent guy.
Candy Crowley
I don't know when I first met Dan. I just feel like he has always been here and I have always known him. Dan was a caring manager for the team and a dedicated media professional. We worked together to establish the DNG training program over the last year and there is no one that cared more about the network's technology growth or the people who would implement it. He helped me to understand the priorities and what we needed to concentrate on. He understood the needs of the entire network and worked tirelessly to make sure that all bases were covered. He never lost his zeal for the work that goes on in the field and was able to do any of the jobs without missing a beat. We all have a strong example in Dan Young to follow: A man who worked hard and was never without a smile (or a laugh). He will be missed.
Grace Dyson
Dan Young was one of the most gifted cameramen I have ever worked with. He was a mentor and a friend. He and I went on an excellent adventure in Peru. Dan and I flew down to Iquitos for a story on the ACEER (The Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research). It was so hot and humid in the rainforest but Dan never complained. Even with rivers of sweat running down his face and armies of mosquitoes feasting on his back as he shot. One on my favorite memories was he and I backpedaling in the rainforest canopy. The ACCER strings ladders in the forest canopy to make scientific exploration possible. We were walking backwards on the ladders high above the jungle floor. It was one the most amazing things I have ever done. We saw pink dolphins and capybaras, we swam in the Amazon River, and Dan took amazing pictures of it all. Dan liked to remind me of the trip every once in a while by reminding me of an incident that occurred while we were shooting an interview. I ended up standing on an ant mound and had to take my pants off in front of our female interview subject. Dan said nothing at the time, but he made up for it later. He was always quick to tease but also quick to defend you if you needed him to back you up. He was one of the nicest and most genuine people I have ever known. He will be missed.
David Allbritton
Dan Young is one of the finest people that I've ever known. I will miss Dan, but I will forever cherish the time that we had together. Dan was a friend to all, but so much more than that to me. He was a non-bossy boss, a friend to the end, and a guide to life and the even more challenging, life at CNN. Like so many others, I would not be where I am today if it were not for Dan Young. The two things that I'll miss most about Dan are his competitive spirit and his positive outlook on everything. Dan was always competitive in a healthy, challenging manner. Dan was always telling me about how he was going to kick my butt at this-or-that. It didn't matter what we were talking about, it could be racquetball, foosball, or completing preparing a capital budget expenditure proposal. He once boasted about how he was going to wake up earlier than me to start our work day. I failed to see the challenge in his boast. In any case, Dan was going to kick my butt, and I must admit, he always did. Once he laid down the challenge, it was "game on" in my mind and I soon found myself rising to Dan's challenge. This leading by example is the trait of a true leader. In a word, positive is what Dan Young was all about. Even in his final days, Dan did nothing but exude positive energy. That contagious "dammit, you're going to be as excited as me" positive energy. I'm truly going to miss the aura of positive energy that surrounded Dan. He always managed to see the glass as half full. He could always find that little ray of hope. Dan knew that it only takes a spark to start a fire, and he used that spark to get others fired up for a cause. I would often call Dan for when I was frustrated or overwhelmed, because I knew in a quick one-minute conversation, Dan would manage to see things positively and help me to view things differently. Again, the mark of a true leader. Dan set the bar. He is the standard. Dan is the person that I aspire to be. Father, husband, brother, son, friend, boss, mentor. How could one person wear so many hats so perfectly? I'm not sure, but Danny boy certainly mastered it. I miss you, Dan.
Jeff Kinney
It's hard to fathom that I will never hear Dan's friendly, enthusiastic voice again -- the next time I call asking for a photog to shoot a stand-up ... I'll always remember how he would ask my input on things to get a producer's perspective. He was such a team player, and made everyone feel like an essential part of the team.
Miriam Falco
Dan was a founding member of "CPR", The Candler Park Regulars. This was a group of mostly CNN employees who played basketball in Candler Park every Saturday morning. CPR games started in 1984 or 1985, and lasted until at least 1995. This was much more than just basketball. This was Male Bonding at the most basic level. It mattered who won, but it may have mattered more who you could razz and kid around with. Guys would often hang around for an hour or more after the games were over, talking about the week at work, journalism, sports and maybe even women. If you failed to show up one weekend, you'd be pestered about it unmercifully all week at work. Dan was known for his sometimes overly aggressive defensive play and his love of shooting. Dan never met a shot he didn't like. Being a "gunner" in playground basketball can sometimes earn you the scorn of your teammates. But it wasn't like that with Dan. It was just part of his enthusiasm for the game. Many of us called him "YDY" more than we called him Dan. YDY stands for Young Dan Young. When he joined the network, he looked about 14. As the years passed, he never seemed to age. Sure, his hair may have picked up a fleck of gray, but his spirit always seemed youthful and energetic. While some of us turn into grumpy dinosaurs as we get older, Dan managed to maintain an almost boyish joy for life. It was hard not to get infected by that spirit. For years, Dan drove a red Miata convertible. It seemed a perfect fit. Miatas always seemed to be peppy, fun car that didn't take themselves too seriously ... When Dan heard that my wife had leukemia he offered advice and encouragement. He helped me better understand various phases of the disease and its' progression. When Dan was recently diagnosed with leukemia too, it was like a cruel joke. He was incredibly upbeat and wrote a very optimistic note to his staff. It was the furthest thing from "why me?" that you could imagine. I messaged him last week to express my concerns. He admitted it felt a bit "surreal" but vowed to "persevere and conquer" the disease. His tone gave me great reason to hope.
Alec Miran
Dan was a great photographer and much more importantly...a great person. I will miss him dearly. Although in the past decade or so, I only saw him periodically in the hallway...those brief moments always brought either a smile or a laugh. I loved working with him over the past 22+ years that I've been at CNN Sports. Dan was with me in 1987 when I covered my 1st major remote at the Daytona 500. His experience and kindness that week were -- and will always be -- remembered. We went on to work together on many major sporting events over the years and he was ALWAYS the consummate professional. I enjoyed all of our shoots together and particularly the sports we played in and around the events we covered. You were a fine athlete and a real friend. May God bless you always, Dan. I'll never forget you.
Jamie Morrison
It was just a couple of months ago when Dan and I were sipping a coffee in the atrium at CNN and laughing at how far we've come. Just like the first time I met Dan, I was asking his advice. Fifteen years later and, instead of a lesson on television 101, Dan was advising me on a management decision. I will never forget when we met. It was one of my first big assignments and thankfully Dan was my photographer. We were covering the troops coming home from Operation Desert Storm. For a green producer you could not have asked for a better person to be with you. The minute I met him he put my nerves at ease. Whether the question was technical or editorial, he guided me through the assignment. That was a long time ago and many assignments later and Dan was still guiding me. I guess I never thought about it until now, but as so many people in this business will tell you, Dan was a "trusted counselor or guide." He was a true mentor.
Kimberly Segal
I was just a VJ back in 1993 when I took an open edit test in the hopes of getting a job in the CNN edit pool. Dan had been supervising the editors during that time due to an injury that had caused him to take a break from shooting. Dan came and found me even though we had never met. He told me that I had done very well on the test, and while I didn't get the job as an editor then, he told me not to get frustrated, but to keep working hard. He made me believe that if I did that then good things would happen for me at CNN. Over the next 13 years as I went from VJ, to feeds, to editor, to sound-tech, to photographer. Dan Young was there for me at every step of that journey. I was just an over-zealous kid with little experience and a burning desire to be out there in the field, covering the big story. I didn't know how to make that I reality back in 1993, but Dan believed in me. He advised me, he encouraged me, and he went out of his way to get me opportunities to better myself at CNN. Those opportunities would have never been there for me with out his help. Dan was more than a mentor; he lived his life as an example to us all, and by making us all better he left us all richer human beings. His spirit will always live on in those that he touched.
Jerry Simonson
Dan always "made things happen." He was so confident about it that sometimes you doubted him, especially when he gave you that grin. But, Dan never let me down, and he always brought a smile to my face when he called or when we passed each other in the building. I trusted his opinion and valued his vast knowledge of the business. More than anything, though, I will miss joking around with him. Once, when I requested a crew, he jokingly said to me, "Why don't you ever ask for me! I'm bummed...so much talent just wasting managing people!!" Dan always had time to laugh, even in the serious business of news.
Jamie Hutton
You can't replace a friend and co-worker like Dan Young. He was CNN, through and through. He was a friend ... through and through. Nothing describes Dan's attitude better than the letter he sent after being diagnosed. Upbeat as ever, he eased our minds by assuring us that his prognosis was good. He explained he had the most treatable form of leukemia and, by winter, he would be back at work. As in everything he did, he was always positive, upbeat and thinking about others. I thanked him for the letter he had sent. I told him it was simply inspiring. I was as sure as he was that this was "going to be alright." I told him that he always had a way of helping us understand that the cup is always half full, and, in this situation, "you have given us the reassurance that the cup is always 100% full." For those of us who knew Dan, his loss is devastating. There are no guarantees in life. His passing reminds us that we must live each day with kindness, respect, understanding and love.
Bruce Fine
I know Dan from when I worked in Atlanta between 1987 and 1991. Back then, he was the cameraman and I was the soundtech/video editor, but it was more like he was the teacher and I was the student. He would spend time explaining how technical things worked and by example would show you how to enthusiastically work with and for people. I think the last time I physically worked with him was a very long time ago... probably 1991 when we were shooting a TV monitor in a trash can playing a logo for a long-gone CNN feature show called Earth Matters. It was an odd thing to do... but something Dan relished and had much fun shooting. Nowadays, we e-mailed back and forth from London to Atlanta about digital newsgathering and I'd talk to him on the phone several times a year. He would keep me up to date on where CNN was in their thinking about what new camera and equipment they might get. He and I talked about the struggles keeping a good work/life balance while at CNN. In one e-mail he had sent me after seeing pictures of my sons, he made a joke that they were so handsome that they must be the milkman's. But then went on to say, that he could understand why I would not want to be gone away from them for very long -- just like he did not like to be away from his son Jake. The very last e-mail he sent me was about yet another cameraman who had been killed in Iraq. That is unfortunately, how we are coming to expect news cameraman to die nowadays, in some war zone someplace. Dan didn't die in a war zone, but he was heroic, nonetheless, and far too young to die. In his job, he very much shaped the way CNN was, is and will be for a while. If you ever wanted a role model for how to live life and how to work with others, Dan was the one to look up to. All too often I fail to live up to his standard. He was a steady presence that will be greatly missed.
Todd Baxter