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In Memory of a Friend and Astronomer

Maury Childs, born in Kentucky in the late thirties, grew up and became interested in the stars and Moon when he was twelve years old. His parents purchased for him, a refractor telescopes from Sears for the huge amount of $28.00. Watching the Moon and a few stars with this scope, he developed a love of viewing that remained for all of the years that he had been privileged to spend on this wonderful Earth and enjoy the skies. Majoring in Biology, he studied the microscopic world and when he turned fifty, he began to enjoy his real love, Astronomy....

Belonging to two astronomy clubs in Dayton and Cincinnati Ohio, he had the opportunity to share his hobby with many outstanding professionals and fellow amateurs. While enjoying his hobby, Maury had the opportunity to travel over two thirds of the United States, from Star Hill in New Mexico, San Diego, California, Mt. Palomar, Key West, and also into Canada to view the heavens from many dark sites. He attended many of the largest star parties in the country.

Maury Childs was an expert telescopist, and was a technical consultant for Meade Instruments. He personally owned and used over 50 telescopes in his career. Maury called himself an "Armchair Astronomer" because he strived to always remain down to earth with his approach to promoting the hobby. He got his greatest enjoyment from seeing the smiles on the faces of beginners when they saw their first image through a telescope. Perhaps Maury's greatest talent was giving confidence to those new to astronomy, by getting on their level and helping them take their first steps. Maury was proud of the fact that he helped over a hundred novices select their first telescope.

Maury spent much of his time doing visual astronomy from his two twelve-foot roll-off roof observatories in his back yard (where he kept and used up to 20 telescopes at a time)in Fairfield Ohio. A few miles from his home is a new silo observatory where he kept a 12" Meade LX200. He maintains a rigorous schedule with his club activities and his very active observing runs, regularly using every telescope that he owns!

Maury waited fifty years to enjoy his hobby, but as he would tell you, he had made up for all the lost time by letting his hobby become one of the most important interests in his life. Seldom did a night go by that he was not out somewhere viewing or helping someone with their hobby. He took great pride in his work to organize dark sky events where astronomers could enjoy their hobby to the fullest.

If there was one outstanding facet of this hobby that Maury enjoyed more than any other, it would be the opportunity to meet and be friends with many novice and professionals in the astronomical community, whom he considered to be some of the finest people on the face of this world. He never believed that he would ever get to know and enjoy the friendship of so many.

At Maury's passing he was surrounded by his family and friends. He is very missed by them and the amateur astronomy community at large. He was a personal inspiration to me, and I was lucky enough to spend several nights at the eyepiece with Maury, and to be at several astronomy outreach events with him, and to see my dear friend off at his at his funeral. There are plans to dedicate an observatory to him in Ohio, as well as annual doorprize dedications in his honor. More information about Maury will appear on AstronomyOutreach as it becomes available.

SWR