Adventure Friend, Photographer Bobby Model Dies

Photographer Bobby Model in Kenya for ADVENTURE. See photos from that assignment here.

We are terribly saddened to deliver the news that our dear Bobby Model passed away yesterday. We do not have any details yet from the family.

Bobby first came to NG when he was part of the team that climbed Trango Tower in autumn 1995, a feat which was featured in the April 1996 National Geographic, and Bobby appeared on the cover of that issue. Images that Bobby shot on that expedition were published in the magazine. While Bobby continued to climb at an extremely high level, upon the urging of his climbing partner, Todd Skinner, he pursued a career in photography, and went on to cover relief work in Sudan, the Balti peoples in Pakistan, and other topics in Africa while he was based in Nairobi. He shot articles for NG Adventure, and worked with David Harvey on his coverage of Nairobi for the National Geographic Africa issue.

When Bobby was injured outside of Cape Town in June two years ago, he was miraculously able to survive what would have been for most a fatal head injury. 

He struggled through a host of extremely challenging medical issues in the coming months at Mt. Sinai hospital in New York, and then at Craig Hospital in Denver, which specializes in brain and spinal cord injuries. He was released from Craig to home care almost a year ago, and has been living in Cody, Wyoming, where his mother, father and sister reside.

No question Bobby was one of the most outstanding individuals with whom I've worked in all my years here at National Geographic. For all of his talent, he was incredibly modest, and unusually thoughtful about how he approached anything in life. An incredible athlete, a talented photographer, and, he was, by all accounts, one the nicest guys you'd meet anywhere.

Bobby valued his relationship with National Geographic tremendously, and was honored to be named an Emerging Explorer, and to have received a grant from the Expeditions Council. When we delivered a signed poster to him from last year's Explorers Symposium, he had a huge grin on his face, and his mother said he looked at the poster every day after and it brought a smile to his face.

We will all miss Bobby, and I will be extending everyone's love and sympathy to Bobby's family today. Should you wish to write a personal note, I will be happy to provide you with their contact information.

–Written by Rebecca Martin, Director of the National Geographic Expeditions Council