Robert Fried (fwd)

From: Joe Patterson <*jop_at_astro.columbia.edu*> Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 18:48:51 -0500 (EST) · jop_at_astro.columbia.edu

Here are some more communications, relayed by Claudio Veliz.

>Subject: FW: [IOTAoccultations] Robert Fried
>
>I had heard this plane crash story on the news, but did not learn who the
>pilot was until this note from Derald.
>
>Bob Fried hosted a photometry meeting in Flagstaff some years ago, when he
>had his residence and Braeside Observatory up on Mars Hill, behind Lowell
>Observatory.  Some time later, Bob and I and other members of the Saguaro
>Astronomy Club cooperated on video recording of a bright star occultation,
>visible from his observatory; the interview with Bob was shown on local TV
>in Flagstaff.  He actively campaigned for dark sky lighting reform in
>Flagstaff.  Later, following a divorce, he moved and built a large new home
>and separate observatory house and three-story observatory tower just off
>the road to the U.S. Naval Observatory, west of Flagstaff.  More recently,
>he and his second wife Marian donated the Braeside Observatory to Arizona
>State University, and he spent the past couple of years getting it set up
>for remote operation.  The Braeside 16-inch Cassegrain reflector is fork
>mounted, with full computer control (one of the first telescopes to be so
>equipped), with a multi-filter photometer head, all of his own design and
>construction.  For many years, Fried sponsored a summer student at the
>observatory, and did photometry on variable stars and cataclysmic variables,
>participating in the Center for Backyard Astrophysics (CBA) programs.  Fried
>originally did cooled-emulsion astrophotography with the 16 inch scope in
>the Atlanta, GA area (1960s and 70s), and was elected President of the
>Astronomical League two times.  He later moved to Denver, then to Flagstaff.
>Captain Fried retired as an L1011 Instructor Pilot with Delta Airlines.
>
>Here are some URLs with more information:
>http://researchmag.asu.edu/stories/observatory.html
>http://braeside.la.asu.edu/telescope.asp
>http://clasdean.la.asu.edu/CLASNews/Spring2000/pdfs/pg3.pdf
>http://www.flagstaff.k12.az.us/flagstaff_high/Departments/Science/braeside.h
>tml
>http://www.flagstaff.k12.az.us/board/documents/press%20releases/prior%20rele
>ases/FHS-Braeside%20Observatory%20Dedication%20News%20Release.pdf
>Center for Backyard Astrophysics Network
>http://cbastro.org/network/
>
>Here is the local news report on the crash in Black Canyon City, from the
>Friday, November 14, 2003 Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), which does not
>identify the pilot:
>http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1114azroundup14.html
>
>Arizona news briefs
>Nov. 14, 2003 12:00 AM
>Pilot dies in plane crash near Black Canyon City
>YAVAPAI COUNTY - One man was killed Thursday morning when his fixed-wing
>aircraft crashed in a remote area southeast of Black Canyon City.
>The pilot, who was not immediately identified, apparently had sent out a
>distress call, said Susan Quayle, a spokeswoman for the Yavapai County
>Sheriff's Office.
>A pilot with the state Department of Public Safety located the plane in
>Block Creek Canyon about 10:40 a.m., DPS Officer Steve Volden said. A
>sheriff's deputy from Yavapai County and a DPS paramedic were dropped off
>about 30 minutes later and had to hike to the wreckage.
>Quayle said details about the pilot and his flight plan were not immediately
>available.
>
>
>Gene Lucas
>(17250)
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: derald_nye [mailto:ddnye@attglobal.net]
>Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 3:19 PM
>To: IOTAoccultations@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [IOTAoccultations] Robert Fried
>
>
>Sad news to report.  Robert E. Fried was killed in
>a plane crash Thursday.  He was flying alone from
>Flagstaff to Phoenix and crashed near Black Canyon.
>I learned of this on the noon news here in Tucson
>and verified it with a friend at Lowell Observatory.
>I do not know any of the details.
>
>Derald Nye
>