26 replies to this topic

[GaryM]

Very sad news. I just learned about this yesterday. Roger Gordon was a friend of mine for many, many years, but I didn't really know him that well. I remember one time when I and a couple of my other astro buddies visited him in his home. I used to see him and Stan Wilkes together every year at NEAF too.

 

Because I am a Questar and Optical Techniques (OTI) Quantum telescope owner and lover, I was particularly fond of Roger since he was involved with both companies. Paul Schenkle was another person and friend of mine that we lost back in 2014 who was employed with both companies too. Whenever I saw either one, I would always ask them about their experiences with these two companies.

 

Roger took with him a wealth of knowledge and experience about Astronomy and telescopes. Roger will be greatly missed.

 

Here is a link to Roger's obituary:  https://obits.lehigh...ary?id=53819860

 

Please everyone, share your experiences and knowledge about Roger. My heart goes out to his family and friends. I know he will live on in our memories forever.

 

 

Sincerely,

Gary Moors

 

 

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[truckerfromaustin]

Rest In Peace. I never had the chance to meet him, but I'm a serious fan of Questar and Quantum telescopes.

[Erik Bakker]

May Roger rest in peace amongst his beloved stars, I have fond memories of him describing his planetary observations with various wonderful classic high end scopes 

[GaryM]

It seems that Roger completed his works on eyepieces before his passing. Does anyone know anything about this? I knew he was working on it for many years.

[cavecollector]

Oh no, that's heartbreaking news! I spent many happy hours on the phone with him talking about everything from telescopes to dog training, he was such a wonderful human being and I will miss him terribly.  

 

I have a huge number of his many pages long, instructive letters on telescopes and astronomy,  I wonder if it would be okay to share some of then in his memory?

Edited by cavecollector, 09 July 2024 - 11:29 PM.

[GaryM]

Cavecollector:

 

Thanks for sharing this. Greatly appreciated. I sure wish I had spent more time getting to know Roger. I'm not sure I can take another loss of one of the wonderful people we have in our hobby.

 

I believe it is now of the utmost importance to gather all of his works and share with everyone. I did reach out to what I believe to be his daughter but haven't heard back yet. I doubt I could get ahold of his wife to ask since she doesn't seem to use the internet.

 

I remember buying his book on Mars. I will have to find it and reread.

 

I know there are many members of LVASS (LEHIGH VALLEY AMATEUR ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY) that knew him. I used to be a member of that club but now live too far to participate. I will however contact them and see what they know.

 

Roger was also very good friends with Stan Wilkes who I am trying to contact. Stan is another one of my friends, but I cannot find his email address so if anyone has it, please let me know.

[strdst]

I'm pretty certain Keith Gordon is Paul's son. Keith has been on CN since 2005 and posted regularly in the classics forum. I see he was posting in other forums as recently March of the year. trainsktg is his handle.

[cavecollector]

Anyone have a list of the books he published? I sure would love to buy them and I am sure others would too. 

 

I have copies of some of the many wonderful articles he published over the years and it would be great if we could get permission to compile and share them along with his amazing letters. He was a masterful teacher always willing to share his knowledge. 

[telescope200]

Very sad to hear about Roger Gordon. I used to see him at LVAAS events and also at Davro Optical, where he would come in and shoot the breeze with Paul Schenkle and company. It was always interesting to listen in on their discussions.

 

Robert

[leonard]

    Sorry to hear of Roger Gordon passing . I only talked with him in person one time a little chitchat about

eyepieces one of his favorite subjects . It was always a treat for me to read his many articles in the excellent little magazine , The Practical Observer . I would look forward to it more than Sky and Telescope .

He told me he was going to complete a book on eyepieces but was having trouble with publication .

Thats sad as Mr Gordon knew his stuff .

 

                                With respect ,    Leonard

[GaryM]

Good news! I have heard back from LVAAS. They had already written a tribute about Roger last month (June) in their Observer newsletter. I have this now and I need to find a way to share this here on CN.

 

I'm also trying to get back issues of the Observer so that we can read all of what Roger shared over the years.

 

Another memory came back to me. I remember when Roger would give talks at the local star parties. He was always my favorite talk to listen to.

 

I hope we hear from Keith Gordon. Maybe he can give us permission to share Roger's works.

[trainsktg]

All, 

 

Thank you for the kind words, I am extremely touched. I knew he had extensive mail correspondence with many fellow amateurs across the country but I did not realize it extended to the CN Forum membership as well.

 

Regarding his book, Observing the Craters of Mars, I have several copies of that I can send to whoever might want them, gratis to anywhere in the world. I already sent about a dozen of these out a few months ago to interested forum members here, and they were well received. I just picked up the last ones he had this last weekend so just PM me your address and a copy  will be on the way presently. 

 

As far as sharing stories go, please feel free to post whatever you like. Some might be new to me as well  😀

 

Regards, 

 

Keith Gordon 

 

 

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[trainsktg]

Oh,  and Dad saved all of his correspondences.. ALL of them. There are totes and totes of them. Next time I am back in PA I will start going through them and see what may lie therein. 

 

Regards, 

 

Keith

. 

 

 

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Edited by trainsktg, 13 July 2024 - 03:47 PM.

[KelliF]

Hello, this is Rodger's daughter. Thank you for all the kind words regarding his passing. I'm pleased to read that so many enjoyed his work and knowledge. 

 

Kelli Faust

[GaryM]

Kelli and Keith:

 

I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. We are all honored to have known Roger whether in person and/or in his writings. He will forever be a part of Amateur Astronomy.

 

Here is a link to the LVAAS tribute to Roger published this June:  https://lvaas.org/fi...r_June_2024.pdf

[trainsktg]

That is a great writeup. Thanks for posting  that. 

 

Keith

[Stew44]

Got my book copy today from Keith.  Thanks so much!  What fun to enjoy.  And nice remembrance of Roger.

[trainsktg]

For those interested, here is a 30 minute film about the construction of the LVAAS facility at Pulpit Rock in PA. 

 

Bill McHugh and Paul Shankle are two of the narrators. (Bill has the raspy 'older' voice and Paul the very deep and ''gentlemanly' voice . I do not recognize the voice with the New England accent.)  Both were regular visitors to an informal 'star gathering' Dad had every weekend at his house, year round. In good weather, telescopes were everywhere. In bad, the latest astro books and magazines were passed around. The evenings usually ended with pie and ice cream and watching the opening skits of Saturday Night Live. Bill had a very keen, dry wit and I can still smell Paul's cherry pipe tobacco. Bill was a master machinist and optician, and Paul worked at both Questar and Quantum. 

 

Walter Leight is another name you will see and hear in the movie. He was Dad's mentor but I didn't know him nearly as well. He was a master woodworker and my sister and I both own several of his handmade violins. 

 

https://youtu.be/_Gt...tBNeYSb2KFfci2h

 

Keith

Edited by trainsktg, 20 July 2024 - 08:15 PM.

[clamchip]

A really interesting film, I enjoyed it.

I have one of Walter Leight's telescopes in my possession, his 8 inch f/26 Cassegrain.

Robert

 

Edited by clamchip, 20 July 2024 - 11:52 PM.

[trainsktg]

 

 

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[GaryM]

I sure wish I could have been part of those monthly get togethers. We should start these back up, what do you think Keith?

 

In the video I recognized Paul's voice since I did know him. He sold me my very first Questar back in 1974. I remember seeing him too at NEAF usually with Roger. I still have the letter Paul hand wrote to me about using colored glass filters in the Questar.

[trainsktg]

The get-togethers were actually every Saturday night, 52 weeks a year. Back then there was no internet so it was a way for the group to meet in between the LVAAS meetings  and swap the latest books, magazines etc etc. Dad had subscriptions to Science News and Sky and Tel, Bill's contributions were whatever science or astro book he found that week at 'The Book Barn' (a 3-story barn filled with 100s of 1000s of used books) plus his subscription to Mad Magazine. Someone invariably always brought some kind of gadget or gizmo to pass around too. I didn't realize it at the time but those Saturday night meetings  are some of my fondest memories and I was very lucky to have grown up in such an environment. 

 

If you have a core group of friends close by  that share the hobby I would definitely  recommend spending informal time together. I

 

Keith

[LDW47]

Condolences from North Bay, Northern Ontario, Canada even though I didn't know your dad !    LW

[KelliF]

For those interested, here is a 30 minute film about the construction of the LVAAS facility at Pulpit Rock in PA.

Bill McHugh and Paul Shankle are two of the narrators. (Bill has the raspy 'older' voice and Paul the very deep and ''gentlemanly' voice . I do not recognize the voice with the New England accent.) Both were regular visitors to an informal 'star gathering' Dad had every weekend at his house, year round. In good weather, telescopes were everywhere. In bad, the latest astro books and magazines were passed around. The evenings usually ended with pie and ice cream and watching the opening skits of Saturday Night Live. Bill had a very keen, dry wit and I can still smell Paul's cherry pipe tobacco. Bill was a master machinist and optician, and Paul worked at both Questar and Quantum.

Walter Leight is another name you will see and hear in the movie. He was Dad's mentor but I didn't know him nearly as well. He was a master woodworker and my sister and I both own several of his handmade violins.

https://youtu.be/_Gt...tBNeYSb2KFfci2h

Keith

[KelliF]

George Maurer is the third narrator. Paul was also a darn good chess player. And you and I practically fought over who got to read Mad Magazine first when Bill brought up the newest addition.