From A.L.P.O.:
It is with great sadness that we let you know that we have been informed that Walter H. Haas, founder and director emeritus of our organization, the Assn of Lunar & Planetary Observers, passed away this morning, April 6, 2015, at 6:10 a.m. MDT (12:00 UT) of natural causes in Las Cruces, New Mexico, his home town for many years. Walter was born July 3, 1917. He founded the ALPO in 1947 and served as executive director until the 1985. He had been in gradually failing health recently but his mind was still sharp as a tack. Many of us owe an unmeasurable debt of gratitude to Walter for shaping lunar and planetary astronomy for what is has evolved into today as well as shaping our own interest in the Solar System and our lives. Viewing will be at La Paz - Grahams Funeral Home, in Las Cruces, NM, on Monday, April 13 from 5 - 8 p.m. www.lapaz-grahams.com Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Las Cruces, 200 W. Boutz, at 10 a.m., followed by a grave-side service at 11 a.m. Walter's daughter, Mary Alba, requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to your local hospice and the ALPO. http://alpo-astronomy.org/