Former UPI photographer Ezio Petersen dies in New York

NEW YORK, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Ezio Petersen, a radio host and former photographer for UPI and the New York Post, has died in Manhattan, the New York Press Photographers Association said Tuesday.

The organization described the Pulitzer Prize nominee on its website as "a nice man with a great laugh and smile who loved Broadway and music just a little more than his photo job in New York."

"Ezio was a special person with a great heart," said Pat Benic, UPI's director of photography. "He was unique in the wire-service photo industry as he specialized in entertainment photography with UPI in the 1970s, and did it with great talent for four decades. He was modest and quiet, but always got the 'picture.' He went for the different angle and captured the best moments and expressions of Broadway, TV and movie stars for decades."

Chris Boneau of Boneau/Bryan-Brown, a famous firm that represents many of Broadway's biggest shows, also remembered Petersen kindly.

"Ezio was a huge supporter of the theater," Boneau told UPI via email. "Always friendly and happy, Ezio not only took great photos and did the best interviews, he was genuinely so very proud of his work. Even when he was standing in the cold or the rain or the heat to cover an opening night, he still had that huge smile on his face. And he made it all feel like a party. I'd like to think he's somewhere breezy and cool aiming his camera at someone famous. Ezio was one of a kind, and sadly, the world has lost a truly lovely, kind, GENTLE man."

A memorial service is being planned.