A. Daniel Messaros III

A. Daniel Messaros, III of Elyria Township, born July 4, 1941, passed away peacefully with his loving wife by his side January 7, 2026, after a brief illness. 

Born in Elyria, he was a 1960 graduate of Elyria High School, the same year he photographed his first wedding. Dan became interested in photography as a high school student, working part time a local photography studio.

Dan enlisted in the U.S Air Force in 1961 and served 4 years in Lincoln, Nebraska. While in Nebraska, he also enrolled in the University of Nebraska as a part-time student pursuing classes in motion picture and television. After returning from the Air Force, Dan graduated from the Winona School of Photography in Winona Lake, Indiana and the Triangle Institute of Photography in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Drawing on his education and experience, Dan began his career photographing school portraits and, in 1973, took a leap of faith by establishing his own studio—Messaros Photography. Through five decades of dedication and perseverance, the studio thrived amid industry changes and evolving trends. Each year, Dan captured approximately 6,500 underclass portraits, 300 senior sessions, and 40 weddings, along with countless church events, commercial projects, family portraits, and other milestones that marked the chapters of his clients’ lives.

Throughout his distinguished photographic career, Dan served as President of both the Northern Ohio Professional Photographers and the Certified Professional Photographers of Ohio. He was also a dedicated member of the Ohio Professional Photographers Board of Directors. Dan earned his Professional Photographers of America (PPA) Certification in 1994, followed by a Master of Photography degree in 1996 and the Photographic Craftsman degree in 2003—an accomplishment achieved by only 5% of photographers nationwide. Over the years, he remained actively involved in numerous photographic organizations at the local, state, and national levels.

Dan—affectionately known as “Danny” throughout Lorain County—has been a devoted supporter of 4-H and the Lorain County Fair since 1972. He first became involved as a 4-H parent, and, true to his profession, was always behind the camera capturing moments. His passion for photography quickly caught the attention of a Fair Board Director, who invited him to photograph the finish line of the horse races and various other events. This opportunity led to his appointment by the Senior Fair Board as the official fair photographer. Dan went on to serve as an appointed Director on the Senior Fair Board for 48 years, dedicating fair week each year to documenting its many events and celebrations. Beyond the fairgrounds, Dan served on the 4-H Endowment Board and was a volunteer 4-H advisor with Elyria family of 4-H’ers for 36 years, mentoring generations of youth. His commitment didn’t end when the fair concluded—throughout the year, Dan traveled to organizations, clubs, nursing homes, grange meetings, and more, sharing the slide shows of his fair photographs. These slide shows became one of the most cherished promotions of the Lorain County Fair. In his later years, Dan remained deeply involved, contributing to the upkeep of the fairgrounds through mowing, painting, and general maintenance—quietly ensuring the grounds reflected the pride and care he felt for the community he served so faithfully.

Dan has been honored with numerous awards in recognition of his service and dedication. His accolades include the Friends of 4-H Award, the 4-H Meritorious Service Award, the Clarie Hill Award, the JVS Appreciation Service Award, Lorain County Metro Parks Award of Appreciation and Lorain County Metro Parks Friend Award, and a special Award of Appreciation from the Lorain County Agricultural and Natural Resources Council. In addition, both the Wellington and Keystone FFA Chapters presented Dan with the Honorary Chapter Farmer Award

Dan was a proud Rotarian, joining the Rotary Club in 1976 and maintaining perfect meeting attendance from his very first year. No matter where his travels took him, he made it a point to find a local Rotary meeting, often returning with club flags and attendance tickets as mementos of his dedication. Dan was honored with the Paul Harris Fellow recognition 3 times during his membership. It was through his involvement with the Elyria Rotary Club that Dan met Barb at the Apple Festival in 1982.

Dan was a member of the Leadership Lorain County Class of 1994 and served on the board of the Murray Ridge Center. In recognition of his lifelong dedication and impact, he was inducted into the Elyria Schools Alumni Association Hall of Fame in 2024. Beyond his professional and civic commitments, Dan was also an avid collector and enthusiast of Coleman memorabilia and spent 20 years as a member of the International Coleman Collectors Club, traveling across the United States and Canada to attend annual conventions and connect with fellow collectors.

Despite his full schedule, Dan always made time for others—offering whatever they needed with a generous heart. Thoughtful, kind, caring, and genuinely helpful, he left a lasting impression on everyone he met. In Lorain County, Dan touched countless lives, often behind the lens, capturing the most cherished moments of families, friends, and community events. As avid travelers, Dan and Barb journeyed together to every state in the continental United States and Hawaii.

Dan is survived by his wife of 42 years, Barbara R. (nee Klingshirn); son, Albert Daniel Messaros IV; granddaughter, Rebecca; sisters, Myra Porter and Molly Brotherton; brother, John and several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews who lovingly called him “Unkie”.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty in 1973 and parents, Albert and Rosella Messaros and a brother, Gerald.

Friends will be received Sunday, January 11, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Dicken Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 323 Middle Avenue, Elyria.  A funeral service will be Monday, January 12, 2026 at 10:00 am at Church of the Open Door, 43275 Telegraph Road, Elyria with Pastor Jason Russ officiating.  Burial will follow in Brookdale Cemetery, Elyria where the Amherst Veterans Military Honor Guard will present military honors.

Memorial contributions may be made in Dan’s honor to the following organizations:

Friends of Lorain County Jr. Fair – c/o Sue Malik [222 14th St. Elyria, OH 44035]

Moody Bible Institute [820 LaSalle Blvd. Chicago, IL 60610] OR

Lorain County Metro Parks, 12882 Diagonal Road, LaGrange, OH 44050, In Memory of Dan Messaros

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