Jeff Gortatowsky
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lit...@gmail.com
Jul 12, 2024, 4:05:18 PM7/12/24
to The Astronomy Connection (TAC)
Jeff has passed on. I don't know why or how but was contacted by his niece. I'm posting the link to his obituary. This is a very sad thing for me. Too many of my friends have left us these past few years. Tip a glass to Jeff tonight, if you will.
Stephen Migol
Jul 12, 2024, 4:09:25 PM7/12/24
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Oh boy.
That's a surprise.
He was always so full of life when I had the chance to meet him.
Jeff has passed on. I don't know why or how but was contacted by his niece. I'm posting the link to his obituary. This is a very sad thing for me. Too many of my friends have left us these past few years. Tip a glass to Jeff tonight, if you will.
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Vishal Kasliwal
Jul 12, 2024, 4:10:07 PM7/12/24
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That is grievous news - Jeff will be missed greatly by me. RIP.
Vishal
Jeff has passed on. I don't know why or how but was contacted by his niece. I'm posting the link to his obituary. This is a very sad thing for me. Too many of my friends have left us these past few years. Tip a glass to Jeff tonight, if you will.
--
Akarsh Simha
Jul 12, 2024, 4:10:17 PM7/12/24
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This is very sad news. Thanks for letting us know.
TAC will not be TAC without Jeff and his wit. I've met him at one, or two GSSP's, and once ate on his meal ticket because he couldn't make it. I was really hoping we'd see him on the field again.
- Akarsh
Jeff has passed on. I don't know why or how but was contacted by his niece. I'm posting the link to his obituary. This is a very sad thing for me. Too many of my friends have left us these past few years. Tip a glass to Jeff tonight, if you will.
--
John Pierce
Jul 12, 2024, 4:13:30 PM7/12/24
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65 is too young to go! (he says, staring at 70 coming down the barrel in a couple months).
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Stephen Migol
Jul 12, 2024, 4:15:23 PM7/12/24
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His flickr stream is still live if you want to browse the images there. Looks like he uploaded a picture of himself in the 2013 GSSP shirt as recent as last month.
Peter Santangeli
Jul 12, 2024, 4:33:12 PM7/12/24
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This is sad and distressing news.
I knew Jeff for probably 25+ years. If I were to describe him, the first word from my mouth would be 'passionate'. Passionate in his beliefs, in his hobbies, in his career, and in the love for his departed wife Kim. We didn't always agree on everything, but I could always count on a great, deep conversation with him.
Kim's death a bit over a year ago left a large hole in his life that I know he struggled with, like so many in that situation. And while I'm not a religious person at all, if all my own beliefs turn out to be wrong, I can only hope they are together again, with a model rocket in one hand, and a good telescope in the other.
He will be missed.
pete
Jeff has passed on. I don't know why or how but was contacted by his niece. I'm posting the link to his obituary. This is a very sad thing for me. Too many of my friends have left us these past few years. Tip a glass to Jeff tonight, if you will.
--
lit...@gmail.com
Jul 12, 2024, 4:46:08 PM7/12/24
to The Astronomy Connection (TAC)
I met Jeff in 1997 at a star party and we immediately connected on a wide range of subjects. We regularly observed together and had a great time. He had a great love for astronomy, astronomy gear, perfect optics, and rocketry. And of course a love for his wife that most of us will never have. As we have aged, we haven't been able to observe tighter for some time but we have always been able to talk to each other. Damn, I am going to miss him.
Jamie Dillon, DDK
Jul 12, 2024, 6:21:02 PM7/12/24
to The Astronomy Connection (TAC)
Thank you, Michelle. Can't have been easy to post.
It was Jeff who coined the nickname DDK, over 25 years ago. There are a bunch of good Gortatowsky stories. Only Dan Wright got away with calling Jeff by a nickname, Gorty; never got cussed for it.
Jeff Gortatowsky will certainly leave a gap. Bon voyage, buddy.
Aris Pope
Jul 12, 2024, 7:49:27 PM7/12/24
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This is very sad news. I never got the chance met him. I agree with Pete, he was a very passionate person. My first times interacting with him here I did bump heads with him, but soon understood that's just who he was and there was nothing wrong with that. Astrophotography vs Visual lol. He was a good guy.
I understand he lost his wife not too long ago. It is nice to know that he is with her now in heaven.
I'll quote Jeff
"Cherish your days together. It can all be gone in a blink of an eye. Make sure you tell your spouse of your love EVERY day."
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Aris
Akarsh Simha
Jul 12, 2024, 9:07:17 PM7/12/24
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Jimi Lowrey from Texas wanted to share this picture of Jeff Gortatowsky he took on the field of GSSP, perhaps in 2018 or 2019.
Regards
Akarsh
John Pierce
Jul 12, 2024, 9:30:06 PM7/12/24
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18 or 19, I'm remembering Jeff having a big truss dob, but maybe this refractor is someone else's scope...
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Steve Gottlieb
Jul 13, 2024, 12:42:43 AM7/13/24
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RIP, Jeff
Hoping for clear skies in Fort Davis with Jeff, Paul & Debbie and myself (along with the Jim and Anna Chandler at the ends) in April 2010
On Jul 12, 2024, at 6:29 PM, John Pierce <jhn.p...@gmail.com> wrote:
18 or 19, I'm remembering Jeff having a big truss dob, but maybe this refractor is someone else's scope...
On Fri, Jul 12, 2024, 6:07 PM Akarsh Simha <akars...@gmail.com> wrote:
Jimi Lowrey from Texas wanted to share this picture of Jeff Gortatowsky he took on the field of GSSP, perhaps in 2018 or 2019.
<RIP_Jeff_Gortatowsky.jpg>RegardsAkarsh
Akarsh Simha
Jul 13, 2024, 1:49:49 AM7/13/24
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That’s quite the picture, Steve. Thanks for sharing.
Jeff’s profile pic on deepsky forum was with Jimi’s scope as well.
Regards
Akarsh
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John Pierce
Jul 13, 2024, 2:47:04 AM7/13/24
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On Fri, Jul 12, 2024 at 10:49 PM Akarsh Simha <akars...@gmail.com> wrote:
That’s quite the picture, Steve. Thanks for sharing.Jeff’s profile pic on deepsky forum was with Jimi’s scope as well.
hah, "you think thats a dob? THIS is a dob!"
Matt Tarlach
Jul 13, 2024, 10:13:09 AM7/13/24
to The Astronomy Connection (TAC)
Well, dang. That's terrible news. RIP Jeff. I recall running into him at star parties all over California. He used to volunteer at RTMC, going back many years.
MT
Stacy Jo McDermott
Jul 13, 2024, 12:21:10 PM7/13/24
to The Astronomy Connection (TAC)
Oh my goodness...I'm shocked to hear this.
Jeff has passed on. I don't know why or how but was contacted by his niece. I'm posting the link to his obituary. This is a very sad thing for me. Too many of my friends have left us these past few years. Tip a glass to Jeff tonight, if you will.
--
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Curt Wittenberg
Jul 13, 2024, 11:38:48 PM7/13/24
to 'Alan Agrawal' via The Astronomy Connection (TAC)
So sorry to hear this news about Jeff. Jeff always had great energy and passion for his hobbies and was an evangelist for others to get involved. He was someone who I always looked forward to seeing at star parties and astronomy gatherings around Southern California and the state. Our connection decreased as my involvement in astronomy decreased but I remained pleased when we managed to get together. He will be missed.
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marek.c...@gmail.com
Jul 14, 2024, 2:48:07 PM7/14/24
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I'm very sorry to hear of Jeff's passing, even though I never really got to know him. Like Pete said, his was a very passionate voice here on TAC and at places like LSA. Although I don't think I had any deep conversations with him, I probably shared the conviviality of a Chez Dan breakfast at Calstar with Jeff.
Because Jeff was from SoCal, I felt an odd little connection to him, in a way. I first came to California in the 90s to go to grad school in SoCal, and my interest in astronomy started to bubble back toward the surface during a temporary teaching job (also in SoCal) shortly thereafter. The Bay Area was where my job ended up being, and after a few years of it I met some TACos (Turley, Albert, Rich N., Phil Terzian) at Montebello, and I was off to the races. But as much as I've enjoyed my time here in the Bay Area, especially because of this hobby, part of me is still back in the mountains that SoCallies frequent, like the Transverse Ranges.
If some strange, unlikely circumstance had ever taken me back there, Jeff would have been the logical guy to contact. I'd have asked him "So where *should* I go? Besides my usual stomping grounds in the Death Valley region, I mean. This "Mt. Pinos" place? Just go to LSA on the occasional dark-moon weekend? What's the optimal solution?" I'm sure Jeff would have been able to expound on highs and lows of being a SoCal observer with considerable passion.
RBA
Jul 19, 2024, 12:46:05 AM7/19/24
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The night Jeff took his last breath, I went to see a concert, and when it finished , I went out, I checked my phone and saw Michelle's message.... I literally froze, among the noisy crowds, as if I had seen a ghost, for at least 2-3 minutes. It was unreal, and I'm sure some of those crowds noticed as they walked by me...
I couldn't believe he succumbed, although somehow, I had seen it written on the wall a few times these past few months... Perhaps because, despite every grievance is unique, I knew well where he could be heading in order to heal, and he would nearly always head in the opposite direction, often aided by more unfortunate events. He couldn't help it, and I knew that too.
I had known Jeff for many years , but from afar... This grumpy "old" TACo could be fun, but you had to understand him, and it just wasn't my vibe. But when Kim, his wife, passed away almost a year and a half ago, me having gone through a similar struggle just a year earlier, empathy grew and we connected, at the bottom, in a very dark place.
I could understand some of it, but didn't want to give him any advice, as I knew well it would be of little help to him. Indeed, most of my texts would receive short responses, just enough to know he appreciated I talked through my own pain, as a survivor. It wasn't enough.
As Peter S said elsewhere, Jeff died of a broken heart, there is no doubt about that. He didn't have the chance to learn that although wounds remain, a strong heart can heal, if we let it, and we're lucky.
Rest in peace, rocket man reaching for the stars...
RBA
Shashi Sathya
Jul 19, 2024, 2:12:09 AM7/19/24
to The Astronomy Connection (TAC)
I never go to meet Jeff... but i would regularly read his take on the topic of discussion. Always had a way with words. Some of this remarks were considered rude and I often wondered if it was. However quick repartee from Jamie DDK and his old buddies in similar tone would show that he had no ill intentions and it was his natural way (reminded me of Sir Humphrey from Yes Minister/Prime Minister). I am sure I would have loved meeting him face to face.
Rest in Peace with a ring side views Jeff...
Shashi.
John Pierce
Jul 19, 2024, 2:50:16 AM7/19/24
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On Thu, Jul 18, 2024 at 11:12 PM Shashi Sathya <subs...@gmail.com> wrote:
I never go to meet Jeff... but i would regularly read his take on the topic of discussion. Always had a way with words. Some of this remarks were considered rude and I often wondered if it was. However quick repartee from Jamie DDK and his old buddies in similar tone would show that he had no ill intentions and it was his natural way (reminded me of Sir Humphrey from Yes Minister/Prime Minister). I am sure I would have loved meeting him face to face.
I think Jeff G had a dose of New Yorker in him. He would say incredibly rude things directly to your face when you met him, but it was all in jest. I, as a native northern Californian, didn't take that very well, but I learned pretty quickly he didn't really mean anything he said like that.
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