Claudia DiMartino

“She put up a valiant fight over many years with her lung disease - and beat it back longer than most with her condition,” said her partner, Hal Buell, former director of AP Photos. “In the last couple of weeks, her body just couldn’t keep up with the many assaults it had to take. She died peacefully at St. Catherine’s Hospital in Smithtown, NY, yesterday (Saturday) morning. I was able to say goodbye to her. She was in control of her choices to the end.

“Claudia cared deeply about her relationships with all of you — her friends — and family. Not only was she a part of the team that drove important advances in the media industry — the move to digital at AP and the development of Bloomberg’s first photo service, but she was also a loving, supportive mentor and person.”

DiMartino underwent a lung transplant in 2015 and was hospitalized in 2022 for lung complications - but recovered and was able to return home. At the time, she said, “I'm not looking for the road home. I'm planning my happy and productive future with my sweetheart. To infinity and beyond!"

Last March, she and Buell celebrated what she called “my 8-year lung-a-versary with my ace caregiver Hal.”

A visitation will be held Tuesday from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Homes, 125 Old Country Rd, Hicksville, New York 11801. A funeral mass will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Pius X RC Church, 1 Saint Pius Ct, Plainview, New York 11803. A private cremation will occur. Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at - www.VernonCWagnerFuneralHome.com Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Homes, 125 W. Old Country Road, Hicksville, New York.

She is survived by her partner, Hal Buell; her sister Debra Kingsley, a retired child psychologist, and nieces Elizabeth Kingsley, Lauren Van Middelem and Kristina Kingsley.

There will also be a short online memorial hosted by her niece Liz Kingsley on Zoom at 6 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday. If you would like to join, please email Liz directly at [email protected] and she will send you a link.