Longtime Saint Mary's College School of Science professor and astrophysicist Ron Olowin passed away Aug. 5 after a yearlong illness. He was 72. Olowin began teaching at SMC in 1987 and "devoted his life to understanding the cosmos, drawing star-strewn connections between scientific observations, religion and human culture, and sharing his wealth of knowledge with his students," Saint Mary's College President James Donahue wrote in a message to the SMC community.
Olowin, who lived in Lafayette, was not only popular with his students, but was a regular fixture at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, where he regularly spoke as part of the Science Café lecture series. During his career, Olowin published numerous articles in scientific and popular publications, served as a visiting professor and guest lecturer at the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley, and received several awards, including the St. John Baptist De La Salle Award, which honors a faculty member for their extraordinary commitment to students, and Professor of the Year in 2008. Donahue noted it was through Olowin's "determined efforts that the Geissberger Observatory was installed on the hill near the cross."
Professor Olowin's funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 at St. Perpetua Church in Lafayette. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Saint Mary's College Chapel.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA