 |
|
In Memoriam: Richard Pirko
 Richard
Pirko, Planetarium Technician at the Ward Beecher Planetarium, passed
away quietly the morning of October 15, the result of an attack of
cardiac arrhythmia the week before.
The following was written by his good friend, Dr. Ray Beiersdorfer:
As a passionate educator, Rick spent the past three decades
providing science outreach as the producer/technician for Youngstown
State University's Ward Beecher Planetarium. In addition to his
public
and school programs, he supervised and mentored numerous college
students, providing them with one of the most important educational
experiences of their lives.
As an accomplished photographer, Rick's aerial photographs of the
Serpent Mound Archeological Site have been published by the Ohio
Historical Society and displayed at The British Museum in London.
As a licensed pilot and co-owner of an aircraft Rick provided hundreds
of children between the ages of 8 and 17 their first flight as a
local
organizer of the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) Young
Eagles
program.
As a dedicated volunteer, Rick was a Merit badge counselor for the
Astronomy and Aviation Merit Badges for the Boy Scouts of America.
As supporter of the arts, peace, social justice and the environment,
Rick provided photographic and technical assistance to the YSU
Department of Theater and Dance, The Oakland Center for the Arts, The
Ohio Supermaximum Players, The Valley Coalition for Peace and Justice,
and The YSU Recycling Center. He was a co-creator of Dr. Ray's Amazing
Sideshow of Science which merged the worlds of sideshow and science as
a fun way to teach critical thinking and skepticism. His worldview
was
free of supernatural and mystical elements. He and his wife,
Victoria,
grew organic vegetables and raised and trained dressage show horses on
their 65-acre farm in Trumbull County, OH, which Rick enjoyed pointing
out was also the birthplace of Clarence Darrow.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his mother and four brothers.
Plans are underway to construct a permanent sundial in his memory. For
more information, please call the YSU
Department of Physics and Astronomy at (330) 941-3616.
|
|
Dr. Patrick R. Durrell,
Director
|
Dr. John J. Feldmeier
|
Sharon Shanks
|
This section is under construction.
|
