[sac-forum] Re: FW: Loss of a Member

Rick (as in Woods), I'm sorry to hear about Earl.  I remember him and Pierre's 
telescope.  I had many a nice observation with it when contrasting it with my 8 
inch.

Did Earl have his pictures posted on the web?  If so please forward the URL as 
I'd like to review them in remembrance of Earl.

Thanks and clear skies,
AJ Crayon
---- Rick Tejera <saguaroastro@xxxxxxx> wrote: 
>  
> All,
> 
> I received this message today. Please pass it on to anyone not on this list
> who would want to know.
> 
> Rick Tejera 
> President 
> Editor SACnews
> Saguaro Astronomy Club
> Phoenix, Arizona
> saguaroastro@xxxxxxx
> www.saguaroastro.org
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rick Woods [mailto:Rick.Woods@xxxxxxxxx] 
> Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 6:04 AM
> To: saguaroastro@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Loss of a Member
> 
> Hi,
> 
> My name is Rick Woods, and I got your email address from one of your SACNews
> letters. 
> I'm writing you to let you know about the loss of one of your members, Earl
> Timmerman. Earl passed away suddenly on Feb. 4th while out hiking.
> 
> Earl was an active member of the SAC many years ago, and had a couple of
> Pierre Schwarr telescopes. During that time, he photographed the entire
> Messier catalog the hard way: on film, hand-guiding his telescope. His album
> was beautiful. But, time went on and he drifted out of the hobby for various
> reasons.
> We started working together at the State of Arizona in early 2001, and
> quickly gravitated together when we discovered our mutual love of astronomy.
> In 2003, I got a new telescope, and we started having a monthly observing
> night at my house out in Black Canyon City. This prompted Earl to join the
> SAC again. At first he was lugging his Pierre telescope out and fighting
> with it, but after a little while of that, he broke down and bought himself
> a nice go-to C11 which he really liked.
> Our observing group grew to three regulars (Earl, myself, and our friend
> Scott with his refractor), with the occasional large crowd of friends
> showing up, making it a party. Earl was a walking encyclopedia on almost any
> topic, and loved showing people the view in his scope while talking
> extensively about the object being viewed. Everyone loved that about him.
> 
> Earl often spoke fondly of the SAC. More than once he mentioned AJ and what
> a maniac observer he is. He had just turned 60 a couple of months ago, and
> was looking forward to his retirement in a few years. There was no clue that
> this was going to happen; he seemed the picture of health until being struck
> down by a heart attack without warning.
> 
> Earl is sorely missed by everyone here at work, and by us, his observing
> buddies. Several of us have pitched in and had a star named for him. I know
> many people don't approve of this practice. Personally, I feel differently.
> It's a gesture of love and respect for Earl from us to his widow Marilyn,
> and seems appropriate to us. We're hanging a copy of the certificate in my
> observatory up in BCC. 
> I hope there are enough of you there at SAC who knew Earl that his loss will
> be felt there as well. A very good man has left us, and the world is the
> poorer for it. Godspeed, my friend.
> 
> If you make an announcement about Earl in your monthly newsletter, may I
> request that you forward a copy to me at this email address, so I can share
> it with his friends?
> Thanks in advance, and take care.
> - Rick Woods
> 
> 
> 
>

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