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Leif J. Robinson, 1939–2011

February 28, 2011
by the Editors of Sky & Telescope

Leif in his office at 48 Bay State Road.
S&T: Dennis di Cicco
All of us who work at Sky & Telescope are deeply saddened to receive news today that our long-time editor in chief, Leif J. Robinson, passed away yesterday at the age of 71. Leif died following a long illness at his home in Costa Rica, where he lived for most of the past decade.

Leif is a monumental figure in the history of S&T. He served on the editorial staff for 38 years, and was editor in chief from 1980 to his retirement in 2000. During his tenure S&T’s circulation grew significantly, and the magazine assumed a more prominent role in the amateur astronomy community.

Everyone who got to know Leif personally was touched by his passion for astronomy and birdwatching, his boisterous personality, and his lively sense of humor. Every one of us who worked with Leif was inspired by his strong leadership, which emphasized journalistic and ethical principles of accuracy and integrity. These core values continue to guide everything we do at S&T.

S&T: Dennis di Cicco
Even in retirement, Leif stayed active. He wrote the popular 50 & 25 column for S&T, and he continued to give talks to general audiences and amateur astronomers. Besides his immense contributions to S&T, Leif served on the Board of Directors of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and he wrote the critically acclaimed book Outdoor Optics.

Today is a day of mourning at S&T, but we are also celebrating his life and contributions. Leif’s legacy will always remain a part of who we are and what we do. We welcome reader comments about their memories of Leif and their feelings about his contributions to astronomy.

For more information and photographs, see our press release.

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First comments (from 26)

Passing of Leif J. Robinson

Posted by Trevor Moulton February 28, 2011 At 10:45 AM PST
I am very saddened to hear of Leif's passing. When I began reading S&T, Leif was the Editor in Chief. His monthly Spectrum column is what captured my interest in the magazine and helped turn me in to a loyal reader. Most of the time,it was almost like he was writing the column just for me. In his writing he made astronomy so accessible and even more interesting. To quote Carl Sagan: "We are all made of starstuff". Leif was a star indeed.

Leif J. Robinson

Posted by Mario Motta, MD February 28, 2011 At 11:00 AM PST
I am sorry to hear of the passing of Leif Robinson. As a lifelong reader of S&T, Leif has "always" been part of my list of astronomy mentors and required reading. In later years, I got to know him quite well, and found him to be a warm and outgoing personality who went out of his way to encourage the amatuer community, and amatuer astronomers in general In fact, when I was awarded the Las Cumbras award by the ASP, I found out later it was Leif and Janet Mattei (AAVSO) who both supported my award, thus I will always be in his debt. I hope he is now viewing his favortie celestioal objects that he loved up close, Mario Motta, MD

Leif

Posted by Jay Pasachoff February 28, 2011 At 11:36 AM PST
It was always a pleasure to interact with Leif, given his enthusiasm, his knowledge, and his love of astronomy.

Leif Robinson

Posted by Joe Rao February 28, 2011 At 11:42 AM PST
Like so many others, I am saddened to hear of the passing of Leif Robinson. I still remember as a teenager reading in the May 1970 issue of S&T about his adventure by car to observe the March 7, 1970 solar eclipse from Mexico with his good friend, astrophotographer, Bob Little. Bob passed away last December and now Leif is gone too. Leif presided over S&T during the years when I was writing feature articles about prospective Leonid storms. He and I were speakers at NEAF back in 1999 and that's where I really got a chance to know him. Not only did I enjoy discussing astronomy with him, but occasionally in the years that followed I would drop him an E-Mail with a question about birdwatching. With the passing in recent months of Bob, Brian Marsden and now Leif, it is a sobering thought that some of the "old guard" that helped draw me into astronomy are now gone. -- joe rao

Leif Robinson

Posted by Jane Houston Jones February 28, 2011 At 01:39 PM PST
I enjoyed getting to know Leif when we both served on the Astronomical Society of the Pacific's Board of Directors in the early 1990's. I'm glad I got to get to know the man behind the printed words. I'll miss those words but more than that I'll miss his huge laugh and twinkling eyes. -- Jane Houston Jones

Leif Robinson

Posted by Robert Burnham February 28, 2011 At 02:34 PM PST
I'm so sorry to hear of Leif's death. He was one of the great people in the field and an all-around wonderful person to know. Some 15 years ago, I was on a panel with him at the Riverside Telescope Makers' Conferenece, and I have never forgotten his comments about what magazines and editors do. His point was that even in a field where everybody is highly connected, editors have an essential role in sifting through the overwhelming flood of news, raw data, hype, and the like. Editors and reporters, he said, select. Bingo! And that's as true now as it was then. I'm glad your notice mentions his birding interests — that was a side of him that relatively few in astronomy knew about. At Stellafane one year (don't remember which) I looked up as a couple of birds zipped by on the way to an evergreen. "Hah! You spotted those cedar waxwings, too!" he said. I said, "Yeah!" as if I actually knew what they were. He then told me how to spot them at a glance by their flight, and this very novice birder came away a bit smarter. I'll miss him, and so will every amateur astronomer.

Leif Robinson

Posted by Dr. P. Clay Sherrod February 28, 2011 At 02:39 PM PST
I had come to know Leif Robinson very well over the many years that he and I corresponded and feel very fortunate that I have always kept our written words filed neatly in the files of my observatory. His letters on blue letterhead will keep their place just as his broad smile will stay in the memories of all who had the pleasure of seeing it for the first time. As we grow older, we build up a degree of sadness by the passing of those around us to whom we have grown close; I have always said it is like never being able to throw away a comfortable pair of old socks....we simply cannot mentally ever part with good folks like Leif. We have lost in recent times Joseph Ashbrook, also of Sky & Telescope, Brian Marsden of Harvard/Smithsonian, and now Leif Robinson, all monumental figures in the promotion and popularization of astronomy to all of us. Dr. Clay Arkansas Sky Observatories

Leif Robinson

Posted by Sam Storch February 28, 2011 At 04:12 PM PST
Leif was certainly one of the "giants" at the foundation of Sky & Tel, but was to me a consummate gentleman. Always approachable, he was a careful listener, a "fountain" of insights and information, and was good-humored. Besides astronomy Leif enjoyed a number of other interests a lot of those reading this share- bird-watching, railroads, and more. I recall how eloquently he spoke years ago at the funeral for George Lovi, also a contributor to the magazine "back in the day." Leif was deeply moved and truly spoke from the heart, something that was a wonderful surprise from an iconic figure from a major publication. May the many ways he explored the heavens and taught us be an inspiration for us to keep up our learning and curiosity.

Leif Robinson

Posted by Michael Gardner February 28, 2011 At 05:42 PM PST
I knew Leif, though not well, through the LAAS, and via mutual friends. Then and throughout his life, he knew what he was talking about. The group I was in that included Leif was sad but very excited for him when he took a job with “Sky & Tel.” In time, he led the magazine through one of the greatest of periods for amateur astronomy, and professional astronomy as well. Leif was an icon for amateur astronomy throughout the country. Rest well among the stars, old friend. Mike Gardner

Leif Robinson

Posted by Don Whiteman Bintel February 28, 2011 At 10:03 PM PST
I feel privileged to have met such a great man. I remember his sense of humour, we had a good laugh. He was the first person to take me birding in the US, after RTMC. I will always remember that. Guys like Leif don't come along too often. He will be missed.

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