We received sad news last night that Carter Roberts passed away about a long battle with colon cancer.
Roberts was one of the true heavyweights of West Coast astronomy. He served on the board of Oakland’s Chabot Space and Science Center since 1994 and as president of the Eastbay Astronomical Society since 1988. He was also instrumental in coordinating events like the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference and Astronomy Day in Northern California.
In 2007, the Western Astronomical Association named Roberts winner of the G. Bruce Blair Award — the highest honor the WAA bestows on an individual — for his dedication to the hobby. Notably, he was instrumental in Chabot’s relocation and the restoration of the observatory’s original instruments.
Although we are saddened that Roberts is no longer with us, we can find comfort in his dedication to bringing the curious into our hobby. Those people, who in turn share their love of the night sky with future generations, are Roberts’ lasting legacy.
I knew Carter. I had the pleasure to meet him about two years ago when I had been invited to speak to the Eastbay club. He was a heck of a nice guy and an excellent photographer too.
I wish I had been able to meet him when he was in his prime. That night when I met him first he had said he was not feeling well having just had a round of Chemotherapy.
Despite his obvious pain he toughed it out and made a tremendous effort to keep on keeping on.
We will all miss him.