Dr. Franklin Zabriskie

1933 - 2021

Dr. Franklin Zabriskie
December 21, 1933 - October 14, 2021
Alexandria, Pennsylvania - Dr. Franklin Robert Zabriskie, 87, died Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland.
Born Dec. 21, 1933, in New York, New York, he was a son of William I. and Marion Crumbie Zabriskie. He was united in marriage to the former Sara Howe, who preceded him in death. The couple had been married 50 years.
He is survived by many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, Dr. Zabriskie was preceded in death by his brother William "Bill" Zabriskie, and his sister Anna "Nan" Zabriskie Mather.
He was raised in the countryside not far from New York City. A major influence during his school years came from boating. He and his father became members of the United States Power Squadron which led to courses in celestial navigation which peaked his interest in astronomy.
His university work earned him a degree in electrical engineering from Princeton University which aroused his interest in physics and its applications. His graduate work in astrophysics seemed like a natural combination, and he was awarded his Ph.D. in 1961 in astronomy.
Dr. Zabriskie became a radio astronomer, first at Wesleyan University then at the Pennsylvania State University (PSU). His scientific interest was in analyzing low frequency radio emissions from Jupiter.He was elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1962. He retired from Penn State to start AstroComputer Control, which provided computer controls for astronomical telescopes in the years before Apple and IBM.
A longtime resident of Alexandria, he, along with his wife, Sara Howe Zabriskie, and others formed the Hartslog Heritage Museum in Alexandria. His vast knowledge of history and machinery, meticulous attention to detail, and tireless investigations proved valuable as they documented the history of Hartslog Valley and founded the museum in 1975.
After retiring, Dr. and Mrs. Zabriskie relocated to Birsay in the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland near the site of an ancient Viking settlement. Here he became interested in archaeology and the prehistory of astronomy which led to writing a book, Geometry of the Heavens, which explains the appearance of the sky at any date or any place. His dedication to the preservation of history continued in Orkney as he helped to establish the Birsay Heritage Trust to conserve and promote Birsay's heritage. Once again, his talents were deployed in restoring the local Barony Mill and saving the site and buildings of the Twatt aerodrome and HMS Tern, one of four airfields in Orkney used during World War II.