Lori Traikos, obituary
Lori lived in New York City for many years as well as London, England, for more than 12 years, and had a home in Maine for the last 20 years.
Lori earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a master's in cultural anthropology from Columbia University. She attended the Maine Photo Workshop in the early 1980s. She was selected to attend the prestigious Missouri Photo Worksop at the Missouri School of Journalism.
Lori is survived by her daughter, Vika Santoro; Alpha, her 8-year old Labrador; and her husband of 33 years, Ovid Santoro.
“Nobody rocks a white shirt better than Lori … this photo captures so much of what I adore about her.”
“I remember when I met Lori in London way back when I was in college. She was so interesting and beautiful and cool and an overall good human... I was absolutely intrigued by her and wanted to grow up to be just like her. Even down to the two silver (Hermes) bracelets that she wore on her wrists.”
“I always think of Lori as an Audrey Hepburn double.”
“I was always a little in awe of Lori, her smarts, her beauty and style, the touch of kookiness, and all with great warmth.”
“We love Lori, she always very welcoming, engaging, caring and thoughtful – a wonderful person and devoted mom. She opened her family life to us and made us feel like we were all one family when together.”
“I simply have never knew anyone with more radiance and loveliness than Lori. I am particularly moved and devastated because, even though I know you have friends who you have known much longer and more completely, it was clear to me that you loved her deeply and in a beautiful way that we are could immediately see and admire. It was just as easy to see and admire the way she loved you. Forgive me if this is too personal, I have tears in my eyes and chunk of some sort in my throat as I write it."
“How many regrets we all have of missed opportunities for love and friendship. But, we also are blessed with happy memories of wonderful people like Lori.”
“For what it’s worth I believe those we love stay with us always and come back to us when we least expect it. Cherish the good memories and keep the faith for the future.”
“Lori was such a beautiful person who graced us all with her creative spirit, she will be truly missed.”
“I didn’t know her as well as I would have liked, but I always enjoyed our cheerful encounters in the midst of both our busy comings and goings. She was a lovely presence and I shall miss her too.”
“I always enjoyed Lori's company as well. She seemed like a very sweet natured person to me and very bright. She also struck me as a very loving mom.”
“Lori was such a beautiful woman, elegant in her lovely white shirt and brilliant smile. She was absolutely reverent in her fierce belief in the power of Art.”
“Lori had been an anchor in my life during college. I was thrilled to have reconnected with her a few years ago. I will treasure my memories of her.”
“I remember the very day you met Lori. You came to my room filled with giddiness and joy at having met her. You just went on and on... And I remember meeting her a few days later and telling you that you were 100% right that she was an awesome gal.”
“Lori was an incredible woman. Kind, soft spoken, very stylish :), a great mom and wife, and a great photographer.”
“I remember her as a wonderful open person with such great energy.”
"Words can’t do justice to my heartfelt feelings for Lori and the past we shared growing up. She was an important part of my family and sweet friend to me as well as my brother. We went through a lot together growing up. I loved to make her laugh.”
“I remember Lori as a beautiful, energetic, smart and lovely woman who had a great sense of humor and really made the most of her life.”
“The world will be a less interesting place without Lori. Thankfully, there is a lot of tangible evidence of her passage through this complicated world. Her devotion to Vika, to art, to education and community, and to your partnership are just the broad-brush strokes of her enthusiastic engagement with life.”
“Lori was such a strong and beautiful woman, we admired her and feel so lucky to have spent the time together during our summers in Maine.”
“My own sense of Lori was completely disproportionate to the time spent with her but my memory of her burns intensely as she was an exceptional human being. I have thought a lot over the past few days about her strength and the kind of paradox her character represented which I would describe as a notable modesty tempered by the certainty of a private personal truth. While I know almost nothing about her history or her work I do know that she influenced many, many people with her interest and empathy for others.”
“Beautiful—she always had the greatest smile and was a true giggler.”
“What an incredible and radiant woman.”
“Elegantly organic, classic gracefulness.”
“Dearest friend, I will hold you in my heart forever. Your bright and loving spirit will keep shining.”
“Sending you love: ever the trendsetter, you're experiencing heaven first.”
“She was a beautiful dreamer, loved by all who knew her.”
“Lori was a soul sister to me with clear vision and a deeply passionate heart.”
“Her presence endures here with us now, and each of us holds a piece of her within us.”
“Lori dreamt of mountains, was a mountaineer in her soul. Far extreme environments and conditions, where only the most courageous dare to go.”
“Brave, strong, respectful of the ancient and enduring, and deeply aware of the context of human life.”
“An inspiration in the way she lived her life and fought like hell to keep it.”
“Lori always had a crisp white shirt on and camera in hand.”
“She was a sharp shooting photographer, with a great sense of the absurd and a silly giggle.”
“A true artist, possessed with a marvelous aesthetic.”
“Lori taught me about seeing.”
"Lori was ever an amazing woman, mother, and wife, whose smile illuminated rooms, and whose goofy laugh always made me smile.”
“An “anchor” holding firm the lives of those she loved.”
“Was at once both a fierce protector as well as an endlessly generous, gracious spirit.”
“Others will be seeing, feeling, and hearing her in the wind and bright sky.”
“Lori dreamed. She dreamed of wild horses. Running free across the plains. I imagine her there now, her hair blowing in the wind. Her beautiful smile shining. Forever.”
