Adios Gene "Cri-Cri" Lysaker

In early 2008 Cri-Cri and I exchanged a number of emails. He was not sure how to post his pictures here, and asked me if I would do that for him, which I did. Here are a couple of the emails he sent me. Peace to you, Gene.

Craig

Feb 20, 2008

Craig;

I have been observing your posts on Rob's Board for some time now. Just
saw your post today Great!. you are very generous to share your web stories an.d photos. I first visited Zihuatanejo back in 1951, Had been in the south Pacific, back after WWll. Zihuatanejo reminded me of the villages of Mindoro in the Philippines, I liked the Island, and people from the start. We had a
Air Force base (I flew on a B -24 ) near the town of San Jose. Zihuatanejo
reminded me of that little village on Mindoro. I have taken pictures of the people and places around Z. I started out in black & white with a Minolta Autocord. Many of my black & white prints are gone, and my color slides are faded , but I still have some left. Seeing your interest in the History of Zihuatanejo , and it's people. I wanted to find out if you would be interested in some of my pictures. Besides the prints I also have photos of my paintings. I can send a few at a time, over the internet. I too am interested in the history of Zihuatanejo, and would like to give you
these photos. and help continue the story of such an interesting town.

Gene

Back in the mid 70's I had cataracts removed. After that I gradually started loosing my sight. I Went to an eye specialist and was diagnosed as having macular degeneration. My retinas were hemorrhaging. Operations I had to go through included 4 laser operations . I lost my drivers license. Thus started what, I thought, would be the darkest period of my life. I was legally blind. I could no longer paint. I started , thanks to Photoshop, trying to find and develop s way to do my art on the computer. I learned much about the art programs on the computer. I could see along with my glasses, to do different things. The picture of the kids fishing was one of my "blind" paintings. It isn't a paint though. It was done from a print that I made changes to in the composition. On this picture I moved the kids around. Then I made the background simpler and many other things. The operations and regulating my diabetes has brought back my eyesight to a point where I can see to paint again. The computer gave me a chance to do things I would never have
done otherwise including a few others of children (some of my favorites} which I wouldnever have done. I would not call them paintings. Computer paintings would be better.