David Allen Pierce

1936 - 2020

BORN

1936

DIED

2020

About

University of California Los Angeles

David Pierce Obituary

October 28, 1936 - August 20, 2020 Dr. Dave Pierce taught astronomy, physics, and other natural science courses to an estimated 10,000 students. He taught for 34 years at El Camino College, where he won the President's Faculty Award for "exemplary service and dedication." Students claimed that his classes were difficult. "I don't give out grades," he explained, "You earn them. I'm just the score-keeper."Dave was "regarded by all as a well-informed, disciplined astronomer, and a thoroughly decent person," recalls Dr. Ed Krupp, Director of the Griffith Observatory. Dave worked with Dr. Krupp on the Observatory's major renovation and expansion (2002-2006), among other projects.The three great joys of Dave's life were the Summer Science Program (SSP), the PLATO Society of Los Angeles, and his recent bride, Liesel Friedrich. Dr. Pierce spent 14 summers teaching astrophysics to teenagers as the Academic Director of SSP. He then served on the program's Board of Trustees for 11 years, retiring as Chair Emeritus in 2013. As one of his students said, he was "a brilliant, humorous teacher with a fierce devotion to student learning." The PLATO Society of Los Angeles, with its goal of lifelong learning, kept Dave busy in retirement. Dave was proud to take classes in subjects with which he was unfamiliar. He earned a BS in Engineering, an MS in Astrodynamics, both at UCLA, then a PhD at Yale in Astronomy (Celestial Mechanics), but art, literature, and history were new worlds for his exploration. Just about to begin a new class at PLATO on the War of 1812, he would say, "At least I know when it started." Also at PLATO, he met and fell in love with his future wife, Liesel Friedrich, a retired journalist. They were hugely happy for six years. "What she sees in me," Dave wrote to a long-time friend, "is one of the mysteries of the universe."Dave Pierce died of leukemia at his home in Los Angeles. He was the oldest child of Frank and Letra Thompson Pierce, born at Queen of Angels Hospital in downtown L.A. He is survived by his wife, Liesel Friedrich, of Los Angeles; sisters, Susan Pierce, of Visalia, and Janet Jacobs of Tempe, AZ; two nieces, Liz Koop and Clara Cussen, both of Visalia; and a nephew, Frank Ladra, of San Francisco.Memorials in Dave's memory would be appreciated at the PLATO Society of Los Angeles,1083 Gayley Ave., LA, CA 90024.

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Published by Los Angeles Times from Oct. 9 to Oct. 10, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for David Pierce

9 Entries

Bill Hood

August 11, 2024

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 also encouraged me to share my astro-images at the unveiling of an art display in the school's planetarium where I met the director of the Griffith Observatory, Ed Krupp. Dr. Krupp would use one of my images on the cover of the monthly publication, "The Griffith Observer". Dave was a great booster of my work and for years, made a point to stop by my display booth when I was doing art shows in Hermosa and Manhattan Beach. Rest in Peace, my friend.

David Kerr

March 18, 2024

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.

Katherine S.

July 17, 2023

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, and I chose to take his physics classes. He was exceptional in all he did. Yet plain and ordinary in attitude. This was common in the field that he trained us for. He and the wonderful Dr. Bruce Fitzpatrick were a part of the last of The Greatest Generation. I miss them both. So blessed to be trained by them, in astronomy, physics, and real world preparations. My condolences go to the family.

Donna Leigh

May 8, 2022

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.

Burton Fletcher

May 14, 2021

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.

Tom Lew

October 28, 2020

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 Tuesday/Thursday versus Monday/Wednesday/Friday came up. I commented, probably at some faculty meeting, that research on the topic was needed to determine whether students did better in two-day-a-week classes versus three-day-a-week. Dave approached me and told me he had done research on the very topic some years before involving his own classes. Not surprisingly, he always had answers for questions most of us seldom thought to ask.

Dave’s intellectual curiosity covered most topics under the academic sun. He was a wonderful, interesting, thoroughly professional individual. My condolences go to his wife, family, and friends.

Tom Lew, Former Dean, Humanities

Max

October 14, 2020

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 sky. Thank you Dr. Pierce....RIP Brother.