[AZ-Observing] Ed Vega

Dr. Vega, star lover, naturalist, dies at 64
By Patty Machelor
ARIZONA DAILY STAR


Dr. Luis Eduardo Vega, a prominent Tucson pathologist and amateur 
astronomer, died Tuesday of complications from brain cancer. He was 64.

Vega, who was born in the Dominican Republic, is remembered for his 
pioneering work in medicine as well as his passion for his family, his 
community, the ocean and the stars.

"My dad was a man of many interests. He was an avid and accomplished 
amateur naturalist and has discovered at least one unique species of 
shell," said his son, Eduardo Robert Vega, 37, of Philadelphia. "He was 
also an accomplished scuba diver and developed, after moving to Arizona, 
a passion for astronomy."

Vega attended medical school in Spain and completed his residency at 
Ohio's Cleveland Clinic. There, he met his wife, Patricia, a critical 
care nurse.

Vega co-founded Tucson Pathology Associates and started the Skywatcher's 
Inn, a bed-and-breakfast observatory just southeast of Benson.

David Levy, who belonged to the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, 
said music from "2001: A Space Odyssey" plays when the dome opens at 
Vega's observatory.

"He had a very powerful, forward way about him and when the dome opened, 
he knew it was a big thing and so even if it was every night, he had the 
music playing," said Levy, science editor for Parade Magazine.

Dr. David Couch, president of Tucson Pathology Associates and medical 
director of pathology at El Dorado Hospital, practiced with Vega for 20 
years before Vega retired two years ago.

"I would say that Ed was an outstanding man and physician and 
humanitarian," Couch said.

Vega did "ground-breaking research" in the study of prostatitis, which is 
swelling and pain beneath the bladder where the prostate gland is 
located, Dr. John W. Polacheck said.

Vega is also survived by his wife, Patricia Vega, and their daughters, 
Dr. Maria Teresa Robinson and Jennifer Alexandra Vega, both of Tucson, 
and Rebecca Lisette Vega of Monterey, Calif. Visitation will be held at 
Bring's Broadway Chapel, 6910 E. Broadway, from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday. A 
funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Francis de 
Sales Catholic Church, 1375 S. Camino Seco.

* Contact reporter Patty Machelor at 807-7789 or pmachelo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx



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