Robin Wayne Evans

1949 - 2024

Robin Wayne Evans

March 15, 1949 - November 19, 2024

Sacramento, California - Robin Wayne Evans passed away peacefully on November 19, 2024, in the home of a loving neighbor after an extended battle with heart disease. Born on March 15, 1949, in Lakeview, Oregon, Robin's life was marked by an insatiable curiosity, a love for science, and a deep connection to nature.

As a child, Robin settled in Sacramento, California, with his parents, Bob and Doris Whitlock, and two brothers, David and Johnnie. He pursued his passion for learning, earning a Bachelor's degree from California State University, Sacramento, and a PhD in Radio Astronomy from the University of California, Davis, where he conducted groundbreaking research at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory.

Robin's career as an astrophysicist took him to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, where he worked under contract from 1986 until his passing. Over his 38-year career at JPL, Robin worked on a number of JPL's premier programs including Galileo (mission to Jupiter), Cassini (mission to Saturn), and, more recently, on Juno (mission to Jupiter) by developing radiation environmental models that were key to the spacecraft designs. He helped develop the JPL Wide Field Planetary Camera II (WFPC II), which was the key camera for the Hubble Space Telescope repair mission. Robin was responsible for the processing and development of several well-known Hubble photographs based on WFPC II images- in particular, the iconic picture of the Shoemaker-Levy comet impact on Jupiter. Robin also developed methods for identifying faint asteroids in the Hubble photos that are now being exploited by others to discover numerous small asteroids.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Robin found joy in the natural world. He cherished kayaking the American River with his close-knit group of Royak friends, exploring caves, panning for gold, and seeking out total solar eclipses. The big island of Hawaii held a special place in his heart, a testament to his adventurous spirit and love of discovery. Robin also found immense joy in recreational flying. He earned his pilot's license early on and often piloted a Cessna 152 or 172, embarking on journeys to Oregon and other destinations, embracing the freedom and perspective only the skies could provide.

Robin will be remembered as a brilliant mind, a kind and generous soul, and an explorer of both the earth and the heavens. He is survived by his older brother, David Whitlock.

A celebration of Robin's life will be held in 2025. Close friends and family will be notified with details. In lieu of flowers and gifts, donations can be made in Robin's name to the American Geophysical Union. Gifts can be made by visiting https://www.agu.org/Give-to-AGU/Giving or through the mail: American Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Ave NW, Washington DC 20009. Please ensure your gift is noted as in memory of Robin Evans when making your gift online or by mail.