DOE photographer dies at 62

Ross Lynn Freeny, a U.S. Department of Energy photographer who helped document current and historic activities in Oak Ridge, died on January 14. He was 62.

Freeny, a University of Tennessee graduate who lived in Maryville, had been a photographer for DOE since 1992. He taught photography classes at Pellissippi State Community College. He died at Blount Memorial Hospital on January 14. He had battled cancer.

Freeny could often be seen taking photos at DOE events. For example, he took photos at the opening of the K-25 History Center in February 2020.

“Lynn Freeny was beloved by his colleagues across the entire Oak Ridge Reservation, myself included, and by outlying sites across the DOE complex,” said Ken Tarcza, manager of the DOE’s Office of Science Consolidated Service Center. “He was an artist as much as a photographer and captured so much more than an image when he pushed the shutter on a camera. Lynn’s role in documenting both current and historic Oak Ridge activity through his photos cannot be understated. His passion for photography drove him to memorialize the broad, ongoing initiatives being undertaken by DOE in Oak Ridge, as well as preserve and share photos from his two immediate predecessors, Ed Westcott and Frank Hoffman. We will dearly miss Lynn. He was a friend to everyone he met, and his legacy will live on for years to come.”

Freeny is survived by his wife Tammy, daughters Caitlin and Emily Freeny, mother LaDel Freeny, and brother Jerry Freeny. Family and friends had a graveside service and interment on Tuesday, January 19, at Grandview Pavilion in Maryville with Reverend Cory Webb officiating.

You can see Lynn Freeny’s obituary here. You can see the DOE Oak Ridge collection of photos here.