John Davis

Amateur astronomy enriched the life of John Davis, and John Davis enriched the amateur-astronomy community. The photo shows John addressing the Connecticut River Valley Astronomers´ Conjunction in 2014, which was the last time I saw him speak at an astronomy event.

When astronomy conventions start up again I know I will automatically start searching for John's eager smiling face in the crowds - but he won't be there...

Though I've never met John, I'll very much miss his article, Deep Sky Treasures, published quarterly in Amateur Astronomy Magazine. This man truly loved the Heavens.

John showed me the Veil Nebula in his large binoculars. At the time I was a newbie to astronomy. I had never seen large binoculars, and I had no idea what to expect. I will never forget the experience, with John guiding the way. John's enthusiasm was stimulating and made you want to learn and see more. Every conversation with him was inspiring. I will miss him.

John Davis was a great guy, I really enjoyed talking to him. Sad to see him move on, but he now has clear skies forever.

Gary

Over the years, I've had the pleasure of meeting dozens of astronomy enthusiasts. None matched John's love of the night sky. It was always a pleasure to see him at an astronomy convention - notably Stellafane, the Conjunction, and his beloved Arunah Hill Days. His "Deep Sky Treasures" column in the Arunah Hill publication was wonderfully written. I still have a notebook containing copies of his articles.My condolences to his family and close friends. We in the astronomical community share in...

I first met John back in the 1980s through our shared interest in astronomy. John had a truly remarkable passion for astronomy and an encyclopedic knowledge of the nighttime sky. Even though he never stopped learning about the universe, he was always willing to share his expertise with others, either in person or through his astronomy articles. John was an eager and active participant in local astronomy clubs and he greatly enjoyed the many friendships he made at regional conventions like...

I am heartbroken to hear of John's passing. He was a wonderful person to be around, whether just talking at the Stellafane swap tables or viewing through binoculars side-by-side at the Conjunction convention in Northfield. John had a rare gift for observational astronomy, seeing objects that others would miss simply because he knew *how* to look, not just what to look at. An astronomer's astronomer! I learned much form him and will cherish those memories for the rest of my...