David Allen Harvey

David Allen Harvey 54, of Tucson, AZ died of gastric cancer on September 6, 2012 at Casa de la Luz hospice. Born on March 7, 1958 in Big Spring, Texas, David was the oldest child of Thomas Harvey, a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, and Sallyann DeWoody Harvey. David's interests included photography, computer programming and astronomy. He graduated in 1976 from Millard Senior High School in Omaha, NE and won several Kodak Gold Key awards for photojournalism. David attended college at the University of Arizona, majoring in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and worked at the Flandrau Planetarium and then at the UA Office of the Vice President for Research. In 1982 he began working as a systems programmer at Steward Observatory where he developed the control system software for the University's six large astronomical telescopes, including telescopes on Kitt Peak, Mt. Lemmon and Mt. Graham. For helping with the Catalina Sky Survey, colleagues named an asteroid after him. He worked at Steward for 30 years, finally retiring in April, 2012. In addition to his work at Steward, David earned his instrument-rated pilot's license and founded and ran two businesses: David A. Harvey Photography and Comsoft. The latter business specialized in telescope control systems used in over 70 telescopes worldwide. In the early 1990s he began working with digital photography. With his business partner, Michelle Rasmussen, he ran a studio portrait business from 2004 - 2009. He then branched into corporate, architectural, and nature photography, garnering numerous awards and publications. David was a member of the Professional Photographers of America and National Press Photographers of America. He became known for his stunning celestial images such as solar and lunar eclipses. Some of his best work incorporating his scientific knowledge, technical expertise, and keen artistic eye is currently being exhibited at the Dakota Café, Tucson. Feisty, brilliant, generous, and dedicated, David was loved and admired by his family, friends, and colleagues. He was taken from us much too soon. He is survived by his loving wife, Gwen Russell Harvey; his son, Scott Harvey; his daughters, Tabatha, Rebecca and Laurie Harvey; his grandchildren, Sky, Dustin, Joshua, Jacob, Michael and Corey; his parents, Thomas and Sallyann Harvey; his sister, Victoria "Vicki" Harvey Sanders; his aunt, Patti DeWoody Gerstenmaier Owen; his uncle, Ronald Scott Harvey and his cousins, Robert Scott, Marti, Trina and Constance. Donations in his memory can be made to PBS/NPR at Arizona Public Media, P.O. Box 210067 Tucson, AZ 85721 or the Flandrau Science Center, 1601 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721. Arrangements by ANGEL VALLEY FUNERAL HOME.