Obit. Prof. Mike Seaton (Astrophysics++)

[Macavity]

I recently came across an obituary for Prof. M.J. Seaton 1923 - 2007
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/aug/31/guardianobituaries.obituaries
These folk have such interesting (Academic & Personal) Histories?!?  😎

I "worked" briefly/remotely with Mike - Setting up his venerable Fortran
Code on a new/faster computer. A few changes, here and there, to get it
to run under new hardware/compilers. But he was ever Polite, Kind, and
Appreciative! I did *not* remark on him STILL using Win 95 on his PC? 😅

Who knew I'd "contributed" to Astrophysics? lol. TO: "Ships that Pass"! 🥂

P.S. Sometimes I think the General Public imagine "Scientists" are forever
"hollering at one another", or checking out (Academic) "Who's Who"? lol
In a vast majority of cases: NOT TRUE! He/we were/are, just... "Mike" etc.
But, rather a lot (even my own "Ken"), seem to figure in "obits" now... 😐

Edited July 28, 2023 by Macavity

[Hawksmoor]

3 hours ago, Macavity said:

I recently came across an obituary for Prof. M.J. Seaton 1923 - 2007
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/aug/31/guardianobituaries.obituaries
These folk have such interesting (Academic & Personal) Histories?!?  😎

I "worked" briefly/remotely with Mike - Setting up his venerable Fortran
Code on a new/faster computer. A few changes, here and there, to get it
to run under new hardware/compilers. But he was ever Polite, Kind, and
Appreciative! I did *not* remark on him STILL using Win 95 on his PC? 😅

Who knew I'd "contributed" to Astrophysics? lol. TO: "Ships that Pass"! 🥂

P.S. Sometimes I think the General Public imagine "Scientists" are forever
"hollering at one another", or checking out (Academic) "Who's Who"? lol
In a vast majority of cases: NOT TRUE! He/we were/are, just... "Mike" etc.
But, rather a lot (even my own "Ken"), seem to figure in "obits" now... 😐

My experience of interacting with exceptionally gifted people has been generally very positive. A few could not get over themselves but the majority were  modest and supportive of others.  Being a good person brings it's own rewards and what could be better than to be remembered as a positive influence and a kindly eccentric soul. Thank you for sharing this memory.

George

[Macavity]

My limited interactions suggest this is often the case! I once worked on a 
"detector design" project. I was given a hand-written note with a THEORY
of such things. The detector prototype, we built, worked well. I wrote it up
as an "internal report". I was TOLD to include this theory (not my work!) 😏

Of course, such things get cited, referenced. But I was still surprised to get
a letter from the "Pioneer of Detector Design" - Read with trepidation. lol.
Apparently, he "Really enjoyed my work", was "Glad his ideas were useful"!
He was even happy to see his MATHS transcribed... He noted a few "minor,
but unimportant", errors in this, and a slight (bigger!) conceptual error in
my added Appendix - He was sure, I had "spotted it by now" - I hadn't! 😅

RIP. He worked from a: "Modest office... Submerged in computer output".
When it rained, he place a large BUCKET on his desk with a notice: "Leak
Testing in progress". A reference to those various Gas Filled Detectors! 🤣
 

Edited July 28, 2023 by Macavity