Memories of Neil Gehrels




Message:
2017 has been a very sad year for high-energy astrophysics, since we lost two key persons who shaped our field.
To first to go was Neil but, few months later, also my husband Nanni Bignami suddenly left us. It was totally unexpected and I felt struck by a lightning.
Now, allow me to say few words on the deep friendship which linked Nanni (and myself) to Neil.
They started to work together in CGRO, Neil as a Project Scientists and Nanni as member of the users’ group.
In doing so, they built a strong relationship based on their common love for science and mountaineering.
They started climbing mountains together in the Alps and then in the Andes.
In 1991, they shared a tent in a week long adventure to climb Tupungato one of the highest summit of South America.
Later they were involved with Integral Nanni to select the scientific instruments and Neil as Mission Scientist.
This meant more occasions to meet and to ski, to hike, to climb to spend time together.
The collaboration continued with Swift and Glast ( later to become Fermi) although Nanni was not involved in these two missions.
However, being ASI science director, he was instrumental in getting them approved and financed by the Italian Space Agency.
In a trip to visit Malindi ground station (which ASI was offering as one of the Italian contribution to SWIFT) they decided to organize a quick ascent to mount Kenya.
I went along to regret it, but they enjoyed tremendously the climb, although it took longer than foreseen and they returned in complete darkness, a scary experience for them and for me (waiting at the hut).
Having shaped high-energy astrophysics, as we know it, they were worried by the lack of a long time perspective in gamma-ray astronomy.
Integral, Swift, Agile and Fermi are important and successful missions but they have passed their tenth anniversary in orbit and no replacement appears to be in sight. Thus, through COSPAR, they tried to
propose a path forward (with limited success).
After securing Athena within the ESA Science program, Nanni decided to invest on ground based gamma-ray astronomy and, while he was President of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics, Italy became a major contributor to CTA.
In general, Nanni and Neil were always thinking ahead, ready to grasp new opportunities for astrophysics and for space exploration.
They both believed in gravitation waves as a new window for astronomy, but, sadly, they were not with us to rejoice of the NS NS merger GW170817.


Added: February 6, 2020
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Message:
A few years now since Neil left us, but that sweet nice way he had of just taking care of everything, easily & swiftly, still gives me a good grin every time I think of it. I picture him saying "yes, I think we can do that" in such a surprising variety of circumstances! Whadda guy.

Added: February 6, 2020
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Shocked to learn from my student Niel is no more and that he passed away almost one year ago! I met him couple of times in Goddard- in the most important building housing library, canteen and the NCU(Nasa Credit Union) during 1992-94. I was NAS/NRC Associate then. He was such a nice person to talk to. Those days he was associated with CGRO/EGRET. Later he was a pioneering figure in Swift project.
High energy community will always miss him.


Added: January 24, 2018
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A great man and scientist that advanced the development of instrumentation for space observation - unlocking knowledge that will benefit all mankind. A true hero to astrophysicist around the world, and to all who study gamma-ray astronomy. Rest in peace, my friend.

Added: January 13, 2018
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Message:
great scientist, sad very sad

Added: August 10, 2017
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Your contributions to NASA and the world will be remembered for generations to come. RIP Mr Neil.

Added: July 16, 2017
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Message:
Dear Neil!
Thanks for all what you transmitted to all of us!
I always admired you for your total dedication to work without loosing, but, instead, continuously maintaining a profound attention to everyone of us!!
This was a real lecture for me!
Thanks again!!!!!

Keep your smart eyes towards us!!!

Franz


Added: March 27, 2017
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Message:
Hopefully you can still inspire good sense and positivity in the LAT Collaboration from above.

With a true smile, as always.

Ciao Neil, enjoy your new adventure!


Added: March 16, 2017
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I worked closely with Neil in the 1990's on the technology development of CdZnTe (CZT) detectors for the Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) on the SWIFT mission. Neil always treated me with great respect and was a wonderful advocate for me and the Detector Systems Branch in the engineering directorate at Goddard. For the SWIFT mission launch, Neil personally extended an invitation to me to attend the launch along with members of my family. We enjoyed a memorable visit to Kennedy Space Center in 2004, and Neil was very gracious to my parents and my future wife Gail. I continued to have various interactions with Neil until last year. I have always considered Neil to be one of the best scientists and principal investigators I have worked with in my career.

Added: March 5, 2017
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I hadn't the opportunity to know Neil very well, only in the LAT meetings twice a year. However it has been enough to appreciate his enthusiastic approach to everything. What impressed me since the first times was his quiet but strong leadership and I liked the way he used to spread it: by example.

Added: March 3, 2017
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