Ike is no more

[awm 0]

 

With sadness I learnt of this news, my deepest condolence to Jean, Duanne, and all at Ikelite. Ike is a legend in the industry especially among underwater photographers – his kindness and thoughtfulness has helped many of us to achieve great success. He is the light of all my underwater images. I will remember him well. Michael AW

[wagsy 0]

Sad news, and although I never met Ike.... it looks like he will be missed by many.

 

Condolences for all Ikelite Family, friends and co-workers

 

Maybe he should be laid to rest in a BIG Ikelite housing.

[fdog 3]

Like so many here, Ike was my first housing...

 

<moment of silence>

 

Thoughts out to family and employees, who will bear the brunt of the loss. I hope they know there's a huge "extended family" that grieves along with them.

 

All the best, James

[Glasseye Snapper 70]

I've never met Ike in person but I did meet some of his children - of the plexiglass variety. It is clear from Ike's messages to this forum, his website, manuals, and products that he poured his heart and soul into his work and his customers. He often seemed to care more about our bottom time than his bottom line and that is becoming a rare attitude in today's world.

 

My deepest sympathy to all family and personal friends.

 

Bart

[TomStack 0]

I first met Ike in 1964 while working for Dacor Corp. when I was in high school.

 

Ike was already making UL700 lights for Dacor and then began constructing Kodak Instamatic housings

for Dacor.

 

He was always most gracious with his time when confronted with questions from a very young UW

photographer and remained the same through the years.

 

A dedicated pioneer who will definitely be missed.

 

Thank you Ike!

 

Tom Stack

[Guest echeng]

Guys -

 

I'd like to take quotes from this thread out and use it in a news posting about Ike's passing. So please write something if you have a story about Ike you'd like to share.

 

Here's the front page post:

http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/ike-brigham...te-passes-away/

[MikeO 5]

I used Ikelite housings for my film SLRs until one day something possessed me to buy an Oly C2020z and a little Oly plastic box before a trip to Providenciales. I wrote to Ike and told him that he ought to think about making something a bit more robust and that it would probably sell pretty well. He was skeptical. However it didn't take long and he jumped in with both feet and his company has led the way with a broad range of housings and innovations like internal TTL circuitry. He was certainly a curmudgeon, and darn it if he didn't sometimes stick to his guns about things people wanted him to change. However, whenever I made suggestions to him, he was genuinely curious and fixed what was broke or made improvements if it made sense to do so. Once I got a first run housing and wrote back that buttons really close together shouldn't all be the same height -- he said to send it back and I got it again a week later with the buttons at different heights and a note that subsequent housings would have the same mod for people like me who were all thumbs. He even offered to overnight a strobe to me in St. Vincent once when one of mine exploded underwater. Can't get service much more personal than that, and the "wry" sense of humor was an added bonus.

[John Bantin 101]

Ike was a real gentleman, of which there seem to be fewer in the diving world every year. He contacted me after my first g lamp comparison test in Diver Mag many years ago and gave me his full support (although it did not necessarily give his products an advantage), for which I was always flattered. He will be missed.

[Dakine 0]

My condolences to his friends and family. I love my Ikelite, thank you Ike!

[anthp 0]

Very sad news. His loss is clearly felt by many people around the world. Condolences to the younger Brigham's - we are thinking of you.

[davephdv 0]

Just got back in town to read of Ike's passing. So sorry to here this. I've had a number of e-mail exchanges with him and he always did his best.

[kthan 0]

ikelite doesn't have the sexiest looking housing around, but there is 1 reason why I stick with them - Ike.

 

My condolenses to Ike's family and staff.

 

Thanks Ike, for helping rediscover my passion for diving.

[Kelpfish 15]

I loved corresponding with Ike. He always looked for the root cause of something so he could build the fix into his manufacturing process. I started my UW photography journey in the early 1980's with a 110 instamatic in an Ike housing that used flash cubes. Man the company has come a long way. We'll miss you , Ike. I am confident that the Ike crew will carry on his vision and business methods.

 

Joe

[dhaas 40]

Amigos,

 

Ike was a true "one of a kind". A businessman, yes. But one who truly wanted to help the "average guy" (whatever that is in this niche activity) record the underwater world. He likely never envisioned how far Ikelite would go....

 

I think back to my first Ikelite Instamatic 126 film camera housing, with a metal arm for FLASHCUBES!!!Through the Nikonos accessories, Substrobe 150 strobes, SLR housings and now multiple digital offerings it's been a hell of a progression. By the sheer will of the man....

 

I'll miss his hilariously entertaining posts here......

 

He truly knew how to embrace new technology and integrate it. And we're all the better for it

 

dhaas

[james 0]

This is very sad news - Ike enriched all of our lives with his presence here and his long career in the underwaterphoto business. My first housing was also an Ikelite - for the Coolpix 990.

 

Ike - I'll miss talking to you my friend.

 

James

[Warren_L 0]

Guys -

 

I'd like to take quotes from this thread out and use it in a news posting about Ike's passing. So please write something if you have a story about Ike you'd like to share.

 

Here's the front page post:

http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/ike-brigham...te-passes-away/

 

 

 

I bought my first DSLR housing from Ikelite a couple of years ago for my Nikon D70. I had a small issue with the housing and had to send it back to Ikelite for servicing, but I figured I'd call customer service at Ikelite to inquire about the issue before sending it back. When I called, someone picked up the phone and said, "Ikelite. Ike speaking". Ike? As in "Ike" in "Ikelite"? Sure enough it was him. We ended up chatting for a while about underwater photography and dive destinations where the photography's amazing. I was very impressed he still took the time to personally answer the phone and chat with his customers. This doesn't happen too often.

[Marjo 8]

This is sad news. My condolences to Ike's family and everyone at Ikelite.

 

I have used Ikelite gear for the last 4 years. When I got into UW photography I didn't really know what brand housing and strobes I should get, but ended up with Ikelite following recommendations of friends. After lot's of bottmtime, bruises and scapes, reading wetpixel, making mistakes, having successes, good days, bad days - I am still using Ikelite gear. Not only has it been realiable and sturdy, but whenever I have contacted Ikelite with questions, they have been most helpful and truly committed to helping me. I too have been amazed at having my e-mails replied to by Ike Brigham himself. This is a sign of true committment! Ike will also be missed by those of us who did not know him personally, but who knew him thru our passion for underwater photography.

Edited January 7, 2007 by Marjo

[Jolly 3]

Very sad. I never met him personally but got in touch with him when I got DS-125 strobes. I will miss email conversation with "addled shopkeeper" Ike and his postings too. My condolences to everybody bound to Ike.

 

Julian