Re: Gene Shoemaker

[Tompaleo@xxxxxxx]

> 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.
  
Indeed! It was Shoemaker's work that really helped me to realize that the
earth is not a closed system and that the evolution of life on earth is
affected by (on occasion) events that take place in space viz a viz, objects
falling from space!

>  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.

I never met him but he did seem to be a really nice person.


>  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!
>  
Let us all keep her in our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery from
her injuries. It's a rare and special thing to have a partner in science who
happens to also be ones spouse!

He will be missed!

Thomas R. Lipka
Paleontological/Geological Studies