RICHARD BOCHONKO

Condolences & Memories (11 entries)

• Dr Bochonko was my favourite professor at U of M. I am very sorry to learn of his passing. He encouraged us in first year astronomy to keep accurate logs of our sightings and helped us understand what we were seeing through our home made spectroscopes. At the end of one class he put out an offer to any of the students there to join him at Glenlea on a Friday night in January to do some tandem observing of an asteroid with U Vic in order to calculate its exact distance and trajectory. I was the only one to volunteer so he picked me up on campus at Speechly Hall. He used a monochrome CCD imager on the telescope and I sat at the computer in the warmer area at the observatory and ate most of his cookies while he did all the hard work! I appreciated his knowledge and inspiration and continue to pursue astronomy as a hobby thanks in part to his influence. - Posted by: Barry McKay (Student in 1993/94) on: Sep 21, 2021

• Dear Helen. When I was a new mother back in 1973 you inspired me with your leadership in La Leche League and the benefits of breastfeeding for children's health. Richard was your perfect partner as a gentle and friendly scholar and new father, and university colleague of my husband at the time, Lionel. Today I learned of Richard's passing more than two years ago in Victoria. It was the news of billions of additional galaxies of stars that brought your names and talents back to my mind. My sincere condolences, Helen and family. You and Richard will always be stars in my memory for you helped me move through the most precious and challenging experiences kf my life....the gift of new motherhood. Now, 43 years later, my appreciation of that gift is greater than ever. May your years ahead be blessed with the satisfaction of that remembering too. Sincerely Laura Steiman (Shofley) - Posted by: Laura Steiman (old friend as new parents ) on: Oct 14, 2016

• Dr. Bochonko was an excellent teacher. It was my good fortune to take an astronomy observation course from Dr. Bochonko. He motivated us to come to an understanding of how to search the night sky and to record our observations. In the intervening 20 years, his enthusiasm and gentle direction have remained with me. Dr. Bochonko was instrumental in the development of other great astronomers and thereby to the deepening of our understanding of the universe. He will be greatly missed by those of us who were privileged to have been inspired by him. Please accept my sincere condolences. Serge Scrafield - Posted by: Serge Scrafield (Student) on: Oct 11, 2015

• My condolences to you Helen and your children. In my Theoretical Astrophysics, which I tried to make as hard as humanly possible, Richard was a joy to have as a student. As evidence of the neat connection we made, we jointly published a rather neat paper, which involved using some of the concepts of the course: “Coronal Lines in the Shell of T Coronae Borealis” Publications of the Astronomical society of the Pacific 80:177-184. 1968. My goodness, it seems only yesterday that he and I were talking on the top floor of the Physics-Astronomy building in Ann Arbor. - Posted by: Kim Malville (aka Captain Ahab) (Professor in the Astronomy Department of the University of Michigan) on: Oct 29, 2014

• It was my pleasure knowing Richard and Helen. Helen I am sorry for your loss. Jim LoPresto - Posted by: James C. LoPresto (Fellow graduate student at Michigan) on: Oct 20, 2014

• Condolences to the family. Richard Bochonko was my favourite university professor and an important influence in my early adult life. - Posted by: Mary (Former student) on: Sep 17, 2014

• Dear Helen, My sincere condolences to you, your children and your grandchildren for your great loss. Richard was a very kind and gentle man of absolute integrity. He will be sorely missed by all who were privileged to befriend him. - Posted by: Irwin Lipnowski (Former University College colleague) on: Sep 10, 2014

• Sorry to hear of Richard's passing. Look after yourself Helen. Owen - Posted by: Owen Clark (Friend) on: Sep 09, 2014

• Dear Helen, My condolences to you and your family. Richard had such a big heart and he shared it with everyone he met. He will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. I always enjoyed our interactions at UTS -- such a very nice man. Warmly, Linda Rzeszutek - Posted by: Linda Rzeszutek (University of Manitoba co-worker) on: Sep 09, 2014

• Richard and I were friends and schoolmates from Grade 1 to Grade 8 at Faraday School and then from Grade 9 to 11 at St. Johns High School and even at the U of M where we were in the Astronomy 1 course together. He and buddy Stan used to play poker together at my mom's house, Our friendship continued on through most of our adult life to the point that I bought a condo in Victoria which I later sold when my wife passed. Helen worked at the Faculty of Education where I took my courses for my Masters. Their son Thor and I shared an interest in Photography and we often attended Coca's music recitals. Now that was friendship! My sincerest condolences to Helen, Thor, Coca and families for your loss. I am sure there are many who share in this great loss. God bless you Richard you were a great friend to many! When I look at the night sky with my telescope I am sure that one of those countless stars is yours. - Posted by: Ron Bodner (Long time friend and schoolmate) on: Sep 09, 2014

• Thank you, Richard, for the great things you did for U of M astronomy. To Richard's loved ones, may you find peace in knowing he had such a positive impact on those he taught and served. - Posted by: Bob (Former student) on: Sep 09, 2014