Brian Magaw: A Remembrance
June 2004 :
10th Anniversary Remembrance
Ten years ago this July, Skyscrapers were both ecstatic and sad at the same time. While we and the world were anxiously awaiting the icy fragments of Shoemaker-Levy 9 to plunge into Jupiter's atmosphere, our colleague Brian D. Magaw lost his courageous battle with cancer.
It was Monday night, July 11, that Brian's wife Darlene called to tell me that Brian didn't have much time left. Perhaps he had only a few hours remaining. I called Dan Lorraine and we finally decided to travel to Boston the next morning. It was not something I was looking forward to, but I knew I would have regretted not doing so.
Brian's mom and dad were there with Darlene. Dan and I hadn't been there more than 20 minutes when Brian slipped away, Tuesday, July 12. I lost a longtime friend that day. The family lost a devoted son, a great husband, a dad and a brother. Skyscrapers lost a dedicated member who had not only raised the bar during his terms as president, but also made many more contributions to our society throughout the years.
Life goes on, as the saying goes, and sure enough, beginning on Saturday, July 16, the first fragment of SL-9 crashed into Jupiter. The rest is history. On Monday, the 18th, the largest fragment hit, and as Jupiter rotated into view we were greeted by an "bull's eye" impact feature in Jupiter's cloud tops. Before the recent Venus transit, the SL-9 impact was one of the most exciting events for me to witness since my first total solar eclipse.
The roller coaster ride of mixed emotions was very difficult to reconcile, but I finally did mange to do so. I am not a religious person, but I do believe something of the person still survives the corporeal death. Call it spirit if you will. I found comfort in my belief that Brian's spirit was no longer tethered to this earth and that he had a ring side seat to the unfolding Jovian spectacle. Brian was now at one with the universe he and I used to explore through the telescopes at Seagrave Observatory.
Dave Huestis
Historian
It was a cool autumn night as I headed out to the observatory eager to try out my new 24mm Panoptic eyepiece. As I pulled into the parking lot, the peeptoads were still singing away, however, it wasn't the strong chorus that we're all treated to during the summer months at Seagrave. It seemed as if they were starting to wind down, getting ready for their long winter slumber. And after all, they deserved it - they had been busy since the early spring and needed the rest. It was a very clear and cool night and the sky seemed especially dark tonight considering all of the development that's gone on around here since I joined over 30 years ago. I walked behind the Clark building and over to the 12" Meade and proceeded to open up the building. As I slid the roof back I got the feeling I often get when I'm at Seagrave, a feeling that I knew I wasn't alone. There is a kindred soul that is always here, always with us and with a watchful, warm, and caring eye for these grounds that he once loved so much.
It was 1973 when I first joined Skyscrapers. After seeing an article in the weekend section of the Providence Journal about the observatory, I sent a letter off asking if I could become part of the "observatory" . even if I could only sweep the floors and help to keep the place clean . anything to just be around the 8.25" Clark refractor. Since I had just turned 14 years old the reply from the "observatory" informed me that all I had to do to become member was to pay my dues! Wow, easier than I had thought! It was on my first trip to the observatory that I met Brian Magaw and our love of astronomy immediately bound us as brothers for life! We quickly became very active in the organization spending many weekend nights observing and then sleeping on the clubhouse floor in our sleeping bags for most of the morning. Our mothers dropped us off Friday night and picked us up late Sunday morning. At that time there were quite a few junior and younger members that had the enthusiasm and stamina to pull off these all night observing sessions. During the day we worked to maintain the grounds: mowing, pruning, painting, and what ever else needed to be done.
Throughout the years Brian held many elected positions with Skyscrapers, including President, and made many significant contributions. He was a can do guy with a positive attitude that was extremely contagious. He was never one to waste time talking about why something couldn't be done, rather his constructive discussions and leadership always moved the organization in a direction that said we can overcome the obstacles in our path and yes we can and will achieve the goal. He brought out the spirit of volunteerism in all of us and members were happy to help. The most impressive thing about Brian is that he had fun with everything he did. He loved to joke . he loved to laugh . and people loved to be with him.
In July 1994 Brian died at the young age of 35 after a courageous battle with cancer. A life tragically cut short, but a life completely fulfilled. You see Brian lived life large every day. He was clearly a man put on this earth with a mission and he achieved it. He figured out how to put two lifetimes of achievements into a short 35 years, and then moved onto something else.
It was several days after we buried Brian that I remember stepping outside and looking up at the night sky. That evening the first piece of Comet Shoemaker-Levy smashed into Jupiter, and I remember thinking to myself "that son of a gun, he did this just in time to have a ringside seat for the show!"
Brian was my friend.
Dan Lorraine
President
Skyscrapers, Inc.
I initially met Brian Magaw back in March 1986 at Beaver Tail State Park during the Apparition of Halley's Comet. Brian assisted me in setting up my camera and tripod and instructed me as to how to properly photograph the comet. Since that initial introduction we became very good friends.
Brian and I often attended the annual STARCONN convention in Connecticut. Brian always drove! During the long drive we would have interesting conversations about the splendors of the Universe.
Brian was also a gifted speaker. I remember attending many a presentation usually on astrophotography. Brian would have embraced the current digital CCD revolution. What incredible images he would have taken.
Brian was also the team leader for the July 7th, 1991 total solar eclipse in Hawaii. I remember setting up on a lava field the night before aligning our telescopes when Brian flagged down an automobile with a PIZZA HUT sign. We all ordered pizza and had it delivered to the middle of nowhere all thanks to Brian. We ate our meal on an ancient lava flow- it felt as if we were on the moon!
Brian Magaw was taken away at such a young age. For all of us that knew him, Brian's spirit and passion for the stars lives on in all of us.
Gregory T. Shanos
Longboat Key (Sarasota) Florida
Skyscraper Member (1986-1990)
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