The restorers began shooting digital copies of the damaged prints with high-resolution professional cameras and specialized no-glare lighting Saturday at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, wearing white gloves to handle the images as though they were museum pieces.
Locals called him Uncle Gocha, because he organized dances at the House of Culture in the summer, and volunteered at the school, wiring lighting and sound for concerts.
In 2010, during an official visit to India, President Obama and the First Lady marked Diwali by participating in a candle lighting and performance at Holy Name High School in Mumbai.