Memories of Neil Gehrels

Memories of Neil Gehrels | Sign guestbook
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It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of our colleague Neil Gehrels after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He passed away peacefully at home on the morning of Monday, February 6, 2017.

This page is a place to collect memories and thoughts of Neil from the large community of his friends and colleagues.

In lieu of flowers, people can send gifts in Neil's memory to the Anacostia Watershed Society.

Neil’s family will be holding a memorial service for him at 3:30 pm on Friday, March 10, in the Memorial Chapel at the University of Maryland at College Park, here the map for the service.
The family will be pleased to see those of you who are able to attend in person, and will have all of his friends and colleagues in their thoughts on the day.

Submitted by
Name: Robert Irion
From: UC Santa Cruz
E-mail: Contact

Message:
I interviewed Neil on many occasions as a journalist, especially for stories in Science magazine on Swift, GRBs, and basically anything super-explosive in the cosmos. He was wonderful to interview: always responsive, gracious with his time, and crystal-clear with his explanations. Neil always recognized the value of doing these conversations, and I greatly appreciated his generosity and easy-going nature over the years.

Added: February 11, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Brenda Dingus
From: Los Alamos National Lab
E-mail: Contact

Message:
Twenty some years ago I was at a conference on the island of Capri with Neil. Several of us decided to rent a boat to explore the grottos around the island. We were deciding when we should go, and someone mentioned that the weather was going to be bad for some of the days. Neil said something like "never change your plans because of the weather.” At first I was taken aback by this reckless attitude, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked this philosophy. Weather predictions are frequently wrong, and if it rains, you can always put on your raincoat. Plus you might get to see a rainbow. I’ve since decided to expand “weather” to include a variety of external factors outside my control, as I think Neil did too. Neil was always so positive and never deterred by "bad weather". I will miss Neil, but I know his inspiration and influence live on.

Added: February 10, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Paul O'Brien
From: University of Leicester
E-mail: Contact

Message:
Neil had the great gift to make everyone feel welcome and valued within what were sometimes large collaborations. He treated you the same way whatever your status, and you knew that your views and interests were important to him. I worked him mostly via the Swift project, which he led with skill and tact. Swift is perhaps his greatest legacy, and will long be given as an example of how to get a project right from the start.

Added: February 10, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Patrizia Caraveo
From: INAF-IASF, Milano
External link: http://www.media.inaf.it/2017/02/07/scomparsa-neil-gehrels/
E-mail: Contact

Message:
I met Neil 30 years ago and we shared many scientific adventures together with a warm friendship.

I knew I could always count on Neil's support and this was just great.

The last thing we did together was the organization of the Conference to celebrate Swift 10th anniversary.

He had accepted enthusiastically the idea I had proposed together with Gianpiero Tagliaferri to held the conference in Italy.

It took place at Rome University in Dec. 2014 and was a great success. The anniversary gift was a painting entitled Cosmic explosion which was donated to Neil by a young Italian artist. Needless to say, Neil was very happy as one can see from the interview published by Media INAF. Indeed we asked Media INAF to publish again this happy moment together with our note of mourning for Neil untimely death (see url on the side).

Added: February 10, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Boris Sbarufatti
From: Italy
E-mail: Contact

Message:
I started working with Swift in Italy in 2006 for my first post-doc, and I first met Neil the following year at a meeting in Amsterdam.

His enthusiasm was infectious and he was an exceptional leader for the Swift team. I can't really express how much his absence will be felt.

Added: February 10, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Bertrand Cordier
From: CEA-Paris Saclay
E-mail: Contact

Message:
It is an immense loss for our scientific community. We have lost not only a great scientist and our best ambassador, but also a friend. Neil has helped us build the SVOM mission and has always shown unwavering support.

Amidst all his qualities, Neil was a first and foremost a visionary who showed us the path of the time domain astronomy. He will be remembered as an example for many generations of scientists, and in particular our youngest ones.

With every new burst we think of him, we miss him already...

Bertrand on behalf of the SVOM collaboration

Added: February 10, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Julian Osborne
From: University of Leicester
E-mail: Contact

Message:
Neil was a great science leader. I knew him for over 13 years as the Swift PI. He was inclusive and decisive, and his approach paid great dividends in the very substantial impact of the Swift mission. He was an energetic man who liked to say 'yes'.

His passing was announced formally at the Royal Astronomical Society in London, at a specialist discussion meeting on Timing and Spectroscopy in the New Era of X-ray Astronomy on the 10th of February; a minute of silence was held. Neil was made an Honorary Fellow of the RAS in 2016.

Added: February 10, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Tom Greene
From: Redwood CIty, CA / NASA Ames
E-mail: Contact

Message:
I didn't know Neil all that well, but he was very kind and generous with me when I worked with him on WFIRST for a few years. He went out of his way to spend time with me, listen to my concerns, and offer his ear and assistance and I will always respect and appreciate him.

Added: February 9, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Stefano Ciprini
From: ASI SSDC, Rome, Italy
E-mail: Contact

Message:
I was shocked by the sudden loss of a prominent, energetic, optimistic and gentle scientist like Neil. His inspiring contribution to Swift and Fermi missions, and science in general will remain for ever. I express my deepest condolences to the Family on this big loss.

Added: February 9, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Peter Kretschmar
From: ESA - ESAC
E-mail: Contact

Message:
My lasting memory of Neil is how he graced every meeting and reunion he attended with his cheerful and constructive spirit and his natural charm. In his unpresuming way, he made others, regardless of their status, feel respected and encouraged. The world is a poorer place for the loss of Neil.

Added: February 9, 2017