Ed Nather

R. Edward Nather (1926 – 2014) was the Rex G. Baker, Jr. and McDonald Observatory Centennial Research Professor Emeritus in Astronomy at UT Austin. He pioneered the fields of asteroseismology of white dwarfs, and observational studies of interacting binary collapsed stars. He served as the director of the Whole Earth Telescope for the first decade of its existence, and achieved internet fame by posting the Story of Mel, a Real Programmer, on Usenet.

Nather died on August 13, 2014 in Austin, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Marilane Nather; his children, Kathy Nather Thomas, Kelley Thompson, Wendy Nather, David Nather and Lara Nather; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.