Passed away on 30th July, 2024, born in Whitstable, Kent, England, 21st January, 1933. Predeceased by his first wife Lois Eleanor (Dewis) and survived by their children, Michael and Margaret (Parkinson), son-in-law Terry and daughter-in-law Erica Roberts, and grandchildren Elijah, Remy Jean and Nicholas, by his second wife Erica Cruikshank Dodd, and his sister Joan and her family.
Alan was educated at Wolverhampton Grammar School and the Universities of St Andrews (B.Sc. 1955, D.Sc. 1974) and Manchester (Ph.D. 1958) and came to Canada in 1959 as a post-doctoral fellow at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, B.C., joining the permanent staff there in 1961. He remained on the staff until retirement in 1991 and continued as a guest worker until 2011, and was still publishing papers in 2024. He served as President of the Canadian Astronomical Society in 1972-74 and of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada from 1976-78. From 1980-1988 he was the Editor of the latter Society’s journal and was elected a Fellow of the Society in 2016. He also served as a Vice-President of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (1964-66) and of the International Astronomical Union (1985-91). In 1977 he was elected to Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada and served on the Council of that Society. From 1992 to 2002 he represented the International Astronomical Union by visiting astronomers in developing countries. He also held visiting appointments at the Vatican Observatory in Castelgandolfo, Italy (1970), the Instituto de Astronomia y Fisica del Espacio in Buenos Aires (1972) and was an Erskine Visiting Fellow at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand (1995). Locally, he has been a sessional lecturer in both astronomy and history in the University of Victoria and has also served as President of the Parent-Teacher Association of Willows Elementary School, a member of the Parish Council of Christ Church Cathedral and of the Synod of the Diocese of British Columbia and was for many years active in the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria, being Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Centre from 1997-2000. He was a faithful member of the band of bellringers at Christ Church Cathedral for the entire 65 years he lived in Victoria and was justifiably proud to be still ringing into his nineties.
The funeral service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 11:00 am. For those unable to attend, livestreaming will be available on Christ Church Cathedral’s website. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to UNHCR, Oxfam Canada, Amnesty International, or Victoria Hospice.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Peter Broughton
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Michael De Robertis My condolences to Alan’s family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
It was a distinct pleasure to have met Alan while I was a (Ph.D.) student at the University of Victoria in the early 1980s. While I didn’t come to know Alan very well, it was apparent that he was deeply dedicated to his field, and that he was a true gentleman. What I found most fascinating about him was his abiding interests in faith and science, science and society, and science education. We will miss you, Alan.
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Dianne (Di) Harmer Dear Michael, Margaret, Erica and all the family, may I extend my sincere condolences. I do hope your own special memories will bring you some comfort. Alan will be greatly missed.
My beloved husband Charles and I met Alan during our first visit to DAO as guest observers in 1974. He invited us to share a meal with him and his wife, Lois, at their home (in very British fashion) and this would be the start of a long, happy friendship. Alan always seemed to be sharing some part of himself in a whole variety of ways and he always had time for his friends.
Each Christmas we would receive a card from Alan, with a handwritten message covering every bit of space available, wishing us the joys of the season and telling us of his travels or other activities that year. In particular, I treasure his thoughts sent at Christmas 2023, following Charles’ sudden death, in which he reminisces about good times we had all spent together and for our friendship through the years (and his handwriting had never changed!). Although we had never met Erica in person it was clear that Alan had found a kindred spirit with whom to share his later life.Thank you, Alan, you were always about caring and sharing. And in everything, always the true English gentleman.
Di Harmer (of ‘Charles and Di’)
Tucson, Arizona via Royal Greennwich Observatory, Herstmonceux, UK
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RINA LANGFORD-KIMMETT I was sorry to hear of Alan’s passing. My condolences to his family, friends, and all who loved him.
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Marshall McCall My first-ever engagement in astronomical research came at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in the summer of 1974, at the end of my second year of study at UVic. My supervisor as none other than Dr. Batten, who had me work on a binary star system comprised of two stars with similar temperatures, only one of which showed unusually strong spectral features due to heavy elements. The question was: Why? I knew very little about the subject, but Dr. Batten’s eloquent tutoring, patient guidance, and pure enthusiasm for research reinforced my commitment to seeking a career in astronomy. He was a real inspiration, and I am grateful for the opportunity that I had to work with him. I convey my deepest condolences to his family for their loss.
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Eugene F. Milone In the 1970s, Alan welcomed me as a newcomer to Canada and was always kind and supportive to me, who shared his enthusiasm for binary stars. We also shared a great love of astronomical and intellectual history and a realization of the importance of faith in its development. Most recently we both contributed to a Korean volume in a series of great scientific works, I on Ptolemy’s ‘Almagest,’ he on Kepler’s ‘The Harmonies of the World.’ When we last shared a meal at the conclusion of the IAU General Assembly in Honolulu, nine years ago, it was easy to think that we could continue to do this wonderful work forever. It has been both pleasure and honour to have known him.
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John Archibald I knew Alan mainly in the bell tower at Christ Church Cathedral where he was unrivalled in his knowledge of bell methods, and conducting. Perhaps more than that he was a gracious, erudite, and cheerful man who enjoyed sharing his knowledge. I was just learning the (literally) ropes and struggled to know what I should be doing at any given time. Somehow, Alan was able to keep track of everyone and say to me in the midst of ringing a complex pattern, “John, you should be following Peter.” I have no idea how he did it. I remember his masterful oratory accompanying the organ recital of The Planets at the Cathedral. Masterfully constructed and delivered, and of course , with no notes!! He was a good man, and I’ll miss him.
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Douglas Hube Alan was a fine man in all respects and an accomplished scientist. I am honoured to have been one of his many friends over several decades and a collaborator.
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(Anne)Carol Colvin Dear Michael and Margaret,
I am so sorry to hear of Alans passing so suddenly….. I knew him a little at St Andrews, as we were in the same year , and many of his friends were also great friends of mine. Jean Forrester and I drove out from Toronto to visit him in 1961, when I think he might have just become engaged to your mother.He has been such a wonderful support and husband to my sister, Erica. One could not have asked for a more decent, gentle and kindly partner. I am hugely grateful for all that they shared, and for all the care and help he has given her these past years.
This comes with my deepest sympathy to you and all your family,
and love,
Anne/Carol (Cruikshank) Colvin (Cambridge UK)
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Brian Newman Michael and Margaret, I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of your father. I have many memories of him as we ran between yards during our childhood. His achievements are something to be proud of and I hope your memories of him give you solace at this time.
Truly, Brian Newman (Ottawa)
Dear Erica (Dodd)
My belated condolences to you on the loss of Alan. I enjoyed conversations that we had at conferences which we attended and I rejoiced that Alan had found a congenial companion in his later years.
Alan and I shared a love of the history of astronomy. He personified scholarship dignity, humour and generosity.
I am sorry that I only learned of his passing recently.
Peter Broughton (Toronto)