[sac-forum] Re: Jeff Medkeff

Stan, that was Jeffrey Shaffer, who mounted his 24 inch telescope out at Hoot Nanny Holler (a tiny settlement 10-15 miles northwest of Prescott, on the rim of the Williamson Valley). That scope was sold to Dr. Tim Hunter and is now in operation at Grasslands Observatory, near Sonoita, AZ.
Jeff Medkeff was in Sierra Vista, and then moved to Alaska. He had evidently made a considerable fortune developing a computer network for Ohio State University, and retired early to do astronomy. After retiring to Arizona, he was very active in the Huachuca Astronomy Club. He worked with David Healy on automating and computer control of telescopes and searching for asteroids. He was active in the Minor Planets Amateur-Professional Workshops, and the MPML e-mail group. 

Sadly, according to Jennifer, he developed liver cancer...
A very smart, intelligent person, very talented and interesting to talk with. He presented a talk to EVAC some years ago (at Scottsdale College) on the subject of thermal mods for Newtonian- 
Dobsonian telescopes and the implications for visual observing.

Gene Lucas
(17250)


Stan Gorodenski wrote:
Isn't this the Jeff Medkeff who built a 24" near Chino Valley or am I mixing him up with the person who moved to Alaska? What did he die of? I do not believe he was that old. 
Stan


Jennifer Polakis wrote:


_A Tent Song_

Till we watch the last low star,
Let us love and let us take
Of each other all we are.

On some morning with that star
One of us shall lie awake,
Lonely for the other's sake.

Witter Bynner, 1917

*In Memory of Jeff Medkeff*

*November 3, 1968--August 4, 2008*

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