Saying Goodbye

Chuck Ring, founding club leader and many times club past president, and his wife, Sue, have been very active members in most FOG club activities since 1995. Sadly, they are moving to West Seattle to live closer to family after 46 years in their Kelso home.

Chuck, a career salesman, has always been FOG’s enthusiastic promoter, very personable recruiter, and community connecter. He and Sue Piper shared their common interest in astronomy at Toastmasters and started our club in spring 1995. They started with a public viewing in Feb. ’95, even before owning any telescopes. Chuck greeted all visitors at those impromptu star parties and recruited to join the club. Chuck and Sue endured icy roads and a car wreck to meet Cal Zambuto, regional Telescope maker. They enticed Carl (now nationally known mirror manufacturer) to teach a mirror grinding and telescope making class to their fledgling group of a dozen astronomy enthusiasts. World famous astrophysicist, James Dobson, Ph.D. lectured our group at Jepson’s workshop at the commissioning of 9 completed 6‘’-8’ Dobs. I joined the first official club meeting in May ’95. Since then, we have met monthly for a scientific program and enjoyed sharing our friendship and interests as astronomy hobbyists.

Chuck would frequently setup his new telescope at the Allen St. gas station on clear evenings to invite any passerby to look at the moon. Chuck and Sue always helped with the July solar Picnic, the December potluck Christmas Party and white elephant astro-gift exchange, the Earth Day FOG booth, special public viewings for lunar eclipses, transits, comets, and school events. They helped with newly started Winter Solstice Lantern Walk at Lake Sacajawea, the biennial painting of the Human Sundial at LCC with Steve Powell, Peg, Mark, Greg, or Bill, and the annual Mt. Saint Helens Star Party. Chuck enjoyed cultivating relationships with our monthly guest astronomy speakers at the pre-meeting dinners. He maintained contact with our NASA Solar System Ambassadors, Les Hastings and Greg Cermac. Chuck was passionate about outreach with Sidewalk Astronomy viewing. He was our faithful liaison with Andre Stepankowsky, The Daily News Editor, who published articles that promoted our educational public astronomy events including the 2017 Solar Eclipse. Chuck’s friendly demeanor encouraged many local astronomy aficionados to keep looking up at the starry nights. Chuck is bringing his 8” Dob to their new home. We are excited to stay connected with him through our zoom hybrid meetings. Chuck and Sue feel blessed with their 4 children and 8 grandchildren, who he says, “turned out pretty good!” They are enjoying the loving attention from their family.

But they cherish the fun that we shared in our friendship through Friends of Galileo during 26 years. Please consider corresponding with Chuck and Sue Ring in Seattle (address available to club members).

-- by Mark Thorson