Gene Shoemaker

["Jere H. Lipps" <jlipps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am extremely saddened to have to pass this information to paleontologists:

>From the USGS:
>
>I regret to inform you that we have just learned of the death of Gene
>Shoemaker and the injury of his wife Carolyn in an automobile accident
>in Australia.  We will share further information with you as soon as it
>is available to us.
>
>
>
>				Paul R. Beauchemin
>				Acting Chief Geologist
>
>

Gene was a key figure in the asteroid/extinction debate because of his high
quality work on impact craters, on tracking asteroids, and on the impact of
the comet Shoemaker-Levy into Jupiter recently.  He was a most-deserving
member of the US National Academy of Sciences.

He really was a great guy. Always happy, always friendly, always ready to
deal with criticism in a joyful way. So enthusiastic! I admired him as much
as anyone I know!  To understand some of this, try to remember or watch his
television special on Comets that aired recently.

His wife, Carolyn, was his partner in science and was the codiscoverer of
Shoemaker-Levy.  She too is a wonderful person.

This is such a horrible thing to happen.  Lots of people will miss Gene!

Jere H. Lipps