Spring 1999 Richard Hamming Astronomy Center |
| We are honored to be able
to name our main building at our Ft. Ord campus The Richard W. Hamming Astronomy Center.
The Hammings were long-time Friends of MIRA and shared a life-long interest in the
mysteries of astronomy. Dick’s widow, Wanda Hamming, was part of the initial group of
supporters of MIRA who joined together in Ansel Adam’s living room to form the
Friends of MIRA. Dick was one of the initial authors of the information age during his tenure at the famous Bell Labs in New Jersey. In our memorial to Dick in last year’s Spring Newsletter, we give a more complete (but hardly a complete) account of Dick’s accomplishments. Since that article, however, we have received several e-mails and notes by Friends who had had a memorable encounter with Dick at a MIRA event or who had worked in a mathematical or computer science field strongly influenced by his work. This naming is made possible through the generous donation made by Mrs. Hamming towards the completion of the renovations of the MIRA Astronomy Center. Our first act, expected in about a month, will be to make this honor official by installing lettering on the front of the Astronomy Center Building. The funding of the renovations is not yet complete. We hope you will join with us and notable MIRA Friends such as William Hewlett in honoring Richard Hamming’s memory by helping to complete the refurbishment funding.
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| In Memory of Hulda Bonestell
Many thanks to those who responded with donations to MIRA in memory of Hulda Bonestell: Rosemary de Leon, Sheila Bostick, and Hugh W. Steven. Hulda was a longtime and treasured friend and supporter who will be sorely missed and vividly remembered. These donations will be added to the Chesley Bonestell Memorial Lecture Fund which Hulda proudly supported for many years. |
