David Allen Pierce

Dave was an incredible individual. With a Ph.D. from Yale, he taught astronomy and physics at El Camino College and retired after 34 years of service. It was my astrophotography that brought us together as friends. He liked one of my published images that he'd seen in Astronomy Magazine and when he found out I also taught at ECC, he came by my self-defense class to introduce himself...and to buy that image. He invited me to give lectures on my work at the annual Onizuka Space Science Day. He...

Dr. Pierce was a truly wonderful teacher. I enjoyed my classes with him at El Camino, and had the pleasure of telling him so a few years before he passed. Thanks again for making astronomy so interesting. David Kerr.

Dr. David Pierce was amazing. He loved his work and cared for his students' success. He was a tough but excellent teacher, carefully answering all questions (or saying that he already answered that, in such and such a time, pushing us to use our brain to remember and analyze the situation). He trained us for real life, which is a whole lot tougher. He was like a coach. Some of us took his classes because of it. I first met him in an astronomy planetarium, between classes. We would talk,...

Sad to learn of Dave´s passing. He was a special person; his humor and his sweet smile will be fondly remembered by me. Rest In Peace, Dave.

I taught full time at El Camino College in the Business Division from 1980 through 1998, so I did not have a lot of dealings with Dave. We interacted primarily through college committees and social functions. I saw him as a passionate individual who was committed to his views.

I can appreciate his loss to the family and I send my best regards and condolences.

Dave Pierce and I did not interact very often (he taught in a different division), but when we did speak, I was always impressed with the precision and incisiveness of his thinking. Dave had a splendid mind and a scientist’s curiosity about almost everything. I was involved with calendar and scheduling issues on behalf of the administration about 20 years ago when El Camino was considering a compressed calendar, and the subject of the success rates of students taking the same course on...

Dr. Pierce was my professor in the mid 80's. I enjoyed his lectures and looked forward to my Astronomy class. Dr. Pierce would always take time to chat with students while on campus. He had a great personality and a great smile. After Graduating from CSULB I had the privilege of teaching at ECC and being in some meets with Dr. Pierce. I would talk shop with him and ask about what to look for in the night sky. Now I will remember My Professor each and every time I look into the night...

Dave was a wonderful teacher and a real gentleman. I am really sorry to hear about his passing.