DAVID SUTPHIN HEESCHEN: 12 MARCH 1926 · 13 APRIL 2012

David Sutphin Heeschen, former director of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and father of the Very Large Array, died at his home in Charlottesville, VA, on Apr 13, 2012 after a series of illnesses. After teaching for 1 year at Wesleyan University, he returned to Harvard in 1955 as a lecturer and research associate. His work at Harvard was principally in radio astronomy, and he was associated with the Harvard Observatory Radio Astronomy Project from its beginning in 1953 until 1956, helping to set up Harvard's 24-foot and 60-foot telescopes. Heeschen began his association with Associated Universities, Inc during the early planning process for a national radio astronomy facility, and he became the third employee at the NRAO on Jul 1,1956. He spent the rest of his professional career at the NRAO. Heeschen served as the director of the NRAO from October 1962 to September 1978.