3 replies to this topic

[Mike I. Jones]

It is with almost inexpressible sadness to announce to everyone here that John Gregory, world famous amateur astronomer and father of the Gregory Maksutov telescope design, was killed in a head-on automobile crash Saturday morning about 9AM. He passed away about 5PM Saturday afternoon, Nov. 14, 2009, at age 82. His wife Carolyn was critically injured and is currently on life support in an Austin area ICU.

I will convey news from the family as I hear about it. John was one of the finest optical designers the world has ever known, and one of the nicest and most decent human beings to ever breathe in God's fresh air as well. I met John in 1978 and became fast friends ever since.

John told me once that he preferred cremation. So, depending on what the family wants to do over the next few days and weeks, there will likely be a memorial service.

Mike

[csa/montana]

The Astronomy world has lost one of the great ones My condolences go out the the family; and hope his wife is able to recover.

[Mike I. Jones]

Two very good articles on John have appeared. Roger Sinnott has written a very fine article on John that appears on the Sky and Telescope home page.

Also, Austin American-Statesman's Nate Adkisson has also written a good article for that newspaper. You can try this link:

http://www.statesman...120gregory.html

or Google "Austin American Statesman John Gregory".

As Roger's article says, I'm collecting stories, tributes, photos, etc. from everyone that wants to and compiling a more extensive biography for John. I'm hoping that the article will be in the format of each contributor's name, followed by his/her own words, and perhaps photos as well. If you have something you could contribute, you could either click on my email link in Roger's S&T article, or write me directly at jones_mi6024@yahoo.com. I hope to pull this together over the next couple of weeks and get it to S&T and Astronomy, where after their edits they can choose to publish it.

Mike

[lineman_16735]

Thanks for doing this Mike. We have lost a great man in Mr. Gregory.