John Parker Oliver OLIVER, JOHN P.Dr. John Parker Oliver, astronomer and retired University of Florida professor, passed away on February 10 due to complications associated with renal cancer. He was 71 years old. Born in New Rochelle, New York, Dr. Oliver earned his undergraduate degree in Physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before going on to complete his doctorate in Astronomy at UCLA where he met his wife of 47 years, Barbara, while doing graduate work at Lick Observatory. In 1970, the Olivers moved their growing family to Gainesville, Florida where he began his distinguished career as a professor of Astronomy at UF until his retirement in 2007. Each year, from austral summer 1984-85 through austral summer 1987-88, Dr. Oliver traveled to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station as part of the UF South Pole Optical Telescope team. SPOT was a small telescope which operated for several seasons evaluating observing conditions in the visible region of the optical spectrum at the South Pole. Dr. Oliver was a co-Investigator and member of the Science Team for IDE data analysis. IDE was carried on the LDEF (Long Duration Exposure Facility) spacecraft. He was also a co-Investigator and member of the Science Team for the Clementine Orbital Monitoring of Debris Counts (OMDC) experiment and was involved in OMDC data acquisition and distribution. Dr. Oliver was a member of the American Astronomical Society, Sigma Xi honorary society and the International Astronomical Union. In 1975, he was the Inaugural Visiting Astronomer to the Copernicus Institute in Warsaw, Poland. From 1988-92 he served as a Research Scientist for the Institute for Space Science and Technology and from 1994-95 he was a NASA Fellow at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. In 2010, Dr. Oliver consulted with artist Brian Connolly on a star map featured on the surface of a sculpted installation that now resides in Armagh City in Northern Ireland. Beyond his research work, his greatest joy outside of his family came from being a teacher. He championed innovations in large classroom teaching, worked with middle school science teachers to develop a curriculum for students, and for more than 20 years rarely missed an opportunity to judge at local and state Science and Engineering Fairs. Predeceased by a son, Michael, he leaves behind his wife, Barbara, three children, Jennifer, Keith, and Rebecca, two grandchildren, Elspeth and Moira, and a great-granddaughter. A memorial service is being planned for the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The John P. Oliver Graduate Award being established within the Department of Astronomy (to be awarded annually to a graduate student who exemplifies the qualities that Dr. Oliver held dear). Donations can be sent (with the name of the award noted on the check) to UF Foundation, PO Box 14425, Gainesville, FL, 32604-2425, attn: Cody Helmer. For information about the planned service or the award contact beckaoliver@gmail.com. Published in Gainesville Sun from February 17 to February 18, 2011 |
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