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Sad news from solar eclipse guru Fred Espenak

 

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.?
?
Dear Friends.
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.
Farewell to all of you,
 

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Sad, indeed.

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Kent Blackwell via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 4:38 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [BackBayAstro] Sad news from solar eclipse guru Fred Espenak

?

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.?

?

Dear Friends.

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.

Farewell to all of you,
 

Our hearts go out to Dr. Espenak, and to Pat.? The legacy and wonder he created and will leave behind him are a great accomplishment.


On Tue, Apr 15, 2025 at 7:41?PM Ted Forte via <tedforte511=[email protected]> wrote:

Sad, indeed.

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Kent Blackwell via
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 4:38 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [BackBayAstro] Sad news from solar eclipse guru Fred Espenak

?

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.?

?

Dear Friends.

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.

Farewell to all of you,
 

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.
?

On 04/15/2025 7:38 PM EDT Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:
?
?
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.?
?
Dear Friends.
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.
Farewell to all of you,

 

He loves(d) not only chasing eclipses but an accomplished amateur, both a visual observer and an astrophotographer.?
 

Won't be easy to fill those shoes

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 09:43:31 PM EDT, Roy Diffrient <mail@...> wrote:


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.
?

On 04/15/2025 7:38 PM EDT Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:
?
?
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.?
?
Dear Friends.
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.
Farewell to all of you,

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