John Doman, a Pioneer Press photographer for decades, was gifted in capturing the essence of a moment and displaying humanity in a photograph through his curiosity and compassion. “I think the thing that made John so special with his work is how he connected with people,” said Jerry Holt, a former photographer for the Star Tribune and friend of Doman’s. “John had that gift about him.
” Doman died Nov. 2 of cancer and pulmonary fibrosis in St. Paul, at the age of 79.
A well-known and respected photojournalist in the Twin Cities, he also worked at the Ohio Press and the Miami Herald. Photos and mentorship Doman, who was born on July 19, 1945, in Cleveland, was drawn to photography because he felt he could do it better than anything he’d ever done, according to his partner Janet Hostetter. The lonely glow of Mickey's Dining Car lights up Ninth and St.
Peter streets at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug.
13, 1985. The original caption for this noirish photo of the downtown St. Paul institution called it a "vehicle" that always runs but never moves.
(John Doman / Pioneer Press) Sparky VI, and her trainer Krista Webber, give a hand --or flipper -- to fans at the end of the Sparky Show at Como Zoo in St. Paul on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006.
The show marked the 50th anniversary of the Sparky the Sea Lion Show, a St. Paul tradition that began in 1956. (John Doman / Pioneer Press) Fans swarm Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington after the Minnesota Vikings lost 10-6 to the Kansas City Chiefs.