MICHAEL A'HEARN

Please allow me to help us all remember Dr. Michael A'Hearn, who was my best and most beloved mentor. I have never met anyone like him! He would hate me singling him out like that, yet he was the best in his realm, which I was lucky enough to endure as an astronomy undergraduate. We led parallel lives, as I discovered later, and I hope he'll greet me one day in the far-beyond, amongst the galaxies we spoke of so often, while we were tracking comets.

I never knew you, Maxine, but if he loved you, so shall I.

We spent much time together - every weekend, 1958 and 1959. He came in his black Ford from Braintree.

I knew his parents, and have tales to tell.

And I have a scrapbook filled with memorabelia (plus a diary. It documents the time we met at the lake, when I was 15, until college (He and Bill came to visit).

Mike was an important part of my family in Massachusetts. He and my father shoveled snow after...

I never knew you, Maxine, but if he loved you, so shall I.

We spent much time together - every weekend, 1958 and 1959. He came in his black Ford from Braintree.

I knew his parents, and have tales to tell.

And I have a scrapbook filled with memorabelia (plus a diary. It documents the time we met at the lake, when I was 15, until college (He and Bill came to visit).

Mike was an important part of my family in Massachusetts. He and my father shoveled snow after every...

I have the fondest memories of Mike. As a postdoc organizing my first conference, I was nervous because I was going to meet the big PI Mike A'Hearn. So he shows up and says hi and starts helping me arrange the folding tables for the sponsor displays. That was Mike, as unpretentious as they come, and I am sorry to see him go. He was a unique astronomer who brought a community of scientists together.

My sympathies go out to Mike's family. It was a privilege to work with him on several NASA flight projects. I respected Mike as a colleague and a friend.

Peter Boyce and Mary Saffell knew Michael as a colleague and administrator in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UMCP. We were so sorry to hear about his passing. He was a wonderful researcher and teacher and as Chair of the Astronomy Dept. He accepted the administrative duties unwillingly but performed them exceptionally well. We are so sad and send our sympathy to Maxine and his children and grandchildren. He will be missed. Peter and Mary

Dear Maxine and Family,
I am so sorry to hear about Mike's passing. He was a great astronomer and I great person. My roommate in grad school, Donna Pierce, was one of his advisees so I got to meet Mike a couple times. Very sorry to hear about his illness and passing.

I am sorry for your loss. May prayers strengthen you and memories comfort you as God carries you through these grief-filled days. He will support you as you throw your anxieties on him.
( 1 Peter 5:6-7)

I am so saddened to hear this. Michael was a great intellect, a wonderful teacher, and a humble servant of God. All of you are in my prayers.