Some sad news

[beren]

The Digital-astro yahoo group has a tribute on its front page for Erwin with one of his stunning images

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digita...guid=162362318

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Yep, I saw that Stuart. Nice tribute.

[Dennis]

Dear Group

I just read a moving memorial from some of Erwin's friends in Holland. It was posted on Terry Lovejoy's website, on his tribute page to Erwin.

Here is the link ==>> http://www.pbase.com/terrylovejoy/er...ed_d70_gallery

Gone but not forgotten.

Best regards

Dennis

[tornado33]

Hi all
Does anyone know the cause of death as yet? what could have struck a fit active man down like that? Its unsettling to not know what was responsible for the loss of a great astro imager like Erwin.
Thanks
Scott

[Moonman (Michael)]

The timing of these things can be ironic. The Star Camp will be a great opportunity for all who attend to have a unofficial wake and celebrate his achievements.

I looked at the web links just now, not previously familiar with him or his work, I can sense the intensity of his passion in the images.

My condolences to his friend's and family and thanks for a great legacy that is his body of work.

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by tornado33

Hi all
Does anyone know the cause of death as yet? what could have struck a fit active man down like that? Its unsettling to not know what was responsible for the loss of a great astro imager like Erwin.
Thanks
Scott

Hello, Scott

The memorial from Erwin's Dutch colleagues makes reference to heart failure. I did hear news from within the SE Qld astronomy community that sadly, his aorta had unexpectedly and suddenly ruptured as a result of an aneurism.

This was my understanding at the time of the funeral.

It is difficult writing these words as I am not sure of what Erwin’s family would be comfortable with seeing written in a newsgroup and I have no official medical details.

Given that Erwin’s presence touched so many of us and his sudden departure has left a void in our lives, with unanswered questions for those who knew him yet were not able to attend the funeral, I hope that what I have written is acceptable.

Regards

Dennis

[westsky]

For those who may be interested in coming along, there is to be a memorial stone laying at Erwins favorite imaging spot at Leyburn next Saturday at sundown.
If anybody needs directions to the Leyburn site either drop me a PM or you can find the details on a PDF file on the SAS website.
http://www.sas.org.au/
it is under the "Camp and field nights" tag on the left hand side.

And don't forget to bring your scopes for what is one of the best observing sites in SE Qld.

cheers
David.

[tornado33]

Thanks Dennis for letting me know, much appreciated.
Sadly A ruptured heart anurism has taken other people of Astromomy too, Yuji Hyakutake the discoverer of one of the brightest comets in our time, certainly a Great Comet that i saw span most of the sky, died the same way. The actor who played the doctor on the great Sci Fi series Babylon 5 also died the same way.
Some people are lucky enough to get a warning of an anurism unexplained strong pain. My mother was one of these, she had a big anurysm on her adominal aorta, she was operated on with a dacron sleeve sewn in, it saved her life. Once an anurism actually begins to rupture nothing can be done, often even if medical aid is immediate. A mates father had a anurism rupture while he was in hospital and he still died, very quickly. Many ppl dont know they have one, as unless there is pain, there is no other sympton of anurism.
Scott