In Memoriam: Glenn Schneider and Pamela Wagner
Schneider remembered as accomplished astronomer and passionate 'umbraphile'
Glenn Schneider, an astronomer at Steward Observatory, died Feb. 5 at 69 years old.
Schneider joined the university in 1994 as part of a team that built the Near Infrared Cameras and Multi-Object Spectrometer, or NICMOS. The imaging instrument was added to the Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched in 1990. He used similar instruments to study the environment around stars beyond our solar system.
Glenn Schneider, Astronomer, Steward Observatory
Schneider was also a key player in developing imaging systems and techniques that helped lead to the discovery of debris systems and other small stellar objects that orbit primary stars.
He retired in 2022.
A self-proclaimed "umbraphile" – or "shadow lover" – Schneider witnessed at least 35 total solar eclipses around the world over a nearly 50-year period. He saw his first in Greenville, North Carolina, in 1970. Over the next several decades, he witnessed eclipses in spots including Siberia, the Caribbean and in a jetliner 35,000 feet above Antarctica.
Though Schneider temporarily shared a world record for the greatest number of total solar eclipses witnessed, he dismissed the achievement as "totally irrelevant" in a 2021 Lo Que Pasa story.
"This is not a competitive sport, we don't do this for record keeping, it's just one of the incidentals that happens to come along with it," Schneider said. "The real relevancy is what amazing phenomena total solar eclipses are."
Services for Schneider were held in February.
Pamela Wagner: A champion of employee creativity, mental health
Pamela Wagner, operations coordinator for the Department of Family and Community Medicine in the College of Medicine – Tucson, died Feb. 24 at 56 years old.
Pamela Wagner, Exhibit Coordinator for "On Our Own Time" and Operations Coordinator, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Wagner was the driving force behind the university's "On Our Own Time" art exhibition and competition, which just marked its 15th year. The program, funded entirely through the National Arts Program, encourages the artistic expression of employees, retirees and their family members. This year's exhibition brought in submissions from 120 artists, which was a significant increase over the previous year.
Wagner was part of the steering committee that oversees Arizona Palooza, a yearly family-friendly mental health resource fair. This year's event is May 3. She was also active in the University of Arizona Staff Council, serving on the Employee Recognition Committee.
"Pamela represented staff in shared governance with thoughtfulness, enthusiasm and a generous spirit," said Melanie Madden, program manager in the Office of Curricular Affairs and Staff Council chair. "Her positive energy, perfectly expressed in her email signature, 'Have an AWESOME day,' will be truly missed.
In recent years, Wagner had also pursued a personal passion: publishing a children's book titled "Hollis Saves Halloween!"
Wagner's family held a celebration of life event earlier this month. The Department of Family and Community Medicine is planning a celebration event in April and will release details as they are finalized.