[ATMoB-discuss] Dorrit Hoffleit, expired 4/9/07

[mmotta at massmed.org]

Hello all,

   Some of you in the ATMOB may know
Dorrit Hoffliet, some may not (but
should!). She once was the director of
the AAVSO, has published hundreds of
papers, worked right up to her 100th
birthday. She was best known for the
work on the Yale bright star catalogue,
and worked on variable stars her entire
lifetime. Still had an office at Yale
until just recently! She had her 100th
birthday March of this year. She was
truly one of the greats of astronomy,
and one of the great privileges I had as
an AAVSO member through the years was to
interact with her at the meetings. She
"mentored" everyone.
I copy what has been sent through the
AAVSO below.

Mario Motta


On Tue, 10 Apr 2007 15:09:49 -0400, arne
wrote:

 We have been informed by Bill van
Altena that Dorrit Hoffleit passed away
yesterday afternoon after a brief
illness.  She was alert and happy at her
100th birthday party in March, where it
was my great pleasure to meet her again.
    We will be creating a web page for
her in the next day or so, and will pass
on any additional information as we find
it out.
Arne