Heaven got a little sweeter and a whole lot crazier and funnier yesterday.
Shawki Moore, a very good friend to me and larger than life photojournalist for the news industry, went to be home with his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, yesterday.
Just recently, Shawki taught a workshop here at Public Safety News Headquarters for our team and PSN Insiders on how to "Shoot Like a Pro With Your Cell Phone." Shawki was his usual, zany self and blessed us with an information-rich and very hysterical time of learning. The very next day Shawki suffered his second stroke.
Shawki and I met in the field running to news scenes in the middle of the night. We became very good friends and would literally, together stop next to his news van or somewhere on scene, and pray for the people being impacted by whatever the situation was where we were at.
I specifically recall a Victorian fire in Midtown; Shawki and I happened to arrive at the same time. After he got his shots for CBS13 and I was done gathering my shots for PSN, I went over to his live truck as he was stowing his gear. "Hey hey hey… let's pray for this family," he said with urgency. Standing in the gutter, next to his rig, we spent some time praying for this family who just lost everything and safety for the firefighters still inside overhauling.
That's the Shawki I know… folks never knew, that while they were going through the worst day in their life, there were a couple of photogs praying for them, the firefighters and officers involved.
I don't think PSN would be where it is today without Shawki. He was a major inspiration and riding his coat-tails as we screamed from incident to incident in the middle of the night for many years, was a true privilege.
To Shawki's wife Fi Fi, his children, family, friends, and coworkers, from all of us at PSN, we offer our deepest heartfelt condolences. Shawki's life is definitely one to celebrate, he has impacted so many. But while we suffer the loss of Shawki here and attempt to fill the very large vacuum his absence leaves in our lives and professionally; he is truly in a much better place today and I know I will see him again.
A tribute to a good friend of Maverick and PSN
