Oh, that¡¯s horrible! ?Lots of sympathy for Fred, his wife and family. ?And what grace and courage in facing the demise he knows is coming very soon. ?Poor Fred ¨C he will certainly be greatly missed by many.
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On 04/15/2025 7:38 PM EDT Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:
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I just read this from Fred Espenak. Fred is and always will be regarded as the authority of eclipses, both lunar and solar. I have all his books and guides.?
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I want to share some sad news.
I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) five years ago. I did not have any significant symptoms until last year. That changed dramatically in 2025 and my health has rapidly deteriorated.
I have spent the last two weeks in a Phoenix hospital undergoing exhaustive testing to determine whether I am a candidate for a lung transplant. Unfortunately, my IPF has progressed too far for a transplant.
I expect to be placed into hospice care tomorrow and will probably be gone within a few days or less.
But I cannot complain. I have had a marvelous life of eclipses, astronomy, a NASA career, and my wonderful wife Pat, the greatest love of my life.
I wish those I leave behind many more years of clear eclipses and awe for the heavens.
