He grew up in Joplin and graduated from Memorial High School before joining the United States Marines Corp . Parker played college basketball at Purdue and the San Antonio Spurs selected him in the fifth round of the 1978 NBA draft. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcomand onFacebook. Visit our page for journalists or call (773) 702-8360. "Dr. Eugene Parker's contributions to science and to understanding how our universe works touches so much of what we do here at NASA," he added. "Gene represented to me the ideal physicist brilliant and accomplished, personable, articulate, but also humble," Robert Rosner, an astrophysicist at the University of Chicago and a longtime colleague of Parker's, said in the university statement. Eugene Parker changed the way we see the sun. Agent Eugene Parker has died after a battle with kidney cancer. Nevertheless, before that his conclusion was roundly criticized. Eugene Lawrence Parker Jr., age 91, of Olathe, Kansas passed away on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. NASA honored Dr. Parkers scientific contributions in 2018 by naming a spacecraft after him that was destined to travel straight into the suns crown. By In 1962, NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft (the agency's first interplanetary mission) discovered the solar wind during its voyage to Venus. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller? The so-called Parker theorem (1972), deals with the topology of the lines of the magnetic force, and the non-equilibrium of non-invariant fields along some large scale direction. He finally mastered the bagpipes. His last publication was entitled Exploring the innermost solar atmosphere (Nature Astronomy, 2020). Eugene N. Parker, an astrophysicist who theorized the existence of solar wind and became the first person to witness the launch of a spacecraft bearing his name, died March 15 at a retirement. Dr. Parker had not planned to study the sun, but his initial research at Chicago was a collaboration with John A. Simpson about cosmic rays. Eugene M Parker, age 92, of Longmont, Colorado passed away on Saturday, October 29, 2022. Ohio Residents: Neptune Society is affiliated with Okerwall Funeral Home. He was just really, really excited about a mission that was really going to do all the science that he always wanted to do.. Those eruptions have the potential to induce electrical surges in power grids that could lead to continentwide blackouts. If you do something new or innovative, expect trouble, he said in 2018 when asked to give advice to early-career scientists. Robert Eugene PARKER, age 94, of El Paso, Texas passed away on Saturday, February 13, 2021. Mariner 2, a NASA spacecraft en route to Venus. We know that what comes from the sun causes big impacts for us here at Earth, Nicola Fox, director of heliophysics at NASA, said in a telephone interview. His seminal ideas include the origin of magnetic fields, known as dynamo theory; rapid dissipation of magnetic fields; the structure of magnetized shock waves; and the diffusion of high-energy cosmic rays. Parker was invited to attend a ceremony in Sweden next month to celebrate the Crafoord Prize, which he won in 2020. We extend our gratitude to everyone who has reached out with memories, for his colleagues over the years who worked with him to explore a subject which gave him much joy, and for the many people at NASA and the Applied Physics Laboratory who welcomed my father and gave him a profound giftthe chance to see the launch of the Parker Solar Probe, which moved him deeply.. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and was a fellow of the American Physical Society and a Legacy Fellow of the American Astronomical Society. Sechrest-Davis Funerals and Cremations. After retirement he worked for a small local communications company and then went on to work and retire from Sprint after 15 years. Parker proposed (1987) that the solar corona might be heated by a myriad of tiny nanoflares, miniature brightenings resembling solar flares that would occur all over the surface of the Sun, a leading theory to explain the coronal heating problem. OBITUARY Keith Eugene Parker August 20, 1961 - November 10, 2022. The first reviewer on the paper said, Well I would suggest that Parker go to the library and read up on the subject before he tries to write a paper about it, because this is utter nonsense, Parker told UChicago News in 2018. Emeritus Eugene N. Parker, a pioneering astrophysicist whose contributions to solar physics were so enormous that NASA named its Parker Solar Probe mission after him, died March 15. Dr. Zurbuchen said he disliked the name Solar Probe Plus and wrote to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine asking it to suggest a person to name the mission after. She was contributing writer for Space.com (opens in new tab) for 10 years before joining full-time, freelancing since 2012. But think critically about it because if youre wrong, you want to be the first one to know that., I dont think it is in any way an overstatement to say that the field of heliophysics exists today largely because of the work of Dr. Eugene Parker, said Nicky Fox, director of NASAs Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington and a friend of Parkers. He was the first born of Eugene and Hazel Marie (Anderson) Parker. Parker correctly predicted that the solar wind would create a large bubble around the sun, the heliosphere (1961). You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. A star tour from the inside out, NASA's Parker Solar Probe captures stunning Venus photo during close flyby, A string of planets in our solar system sparkles in photos from 3 different sun probes, NASA sun probe spies the solar wind in 1st birthday photo, We need more rules for space junk and moon bases, NASA and US officials say, NASA's SWOT water satellite suffers instrument shutdown in orbit, NASA's IBEX spacecraft not responding to commands after computer glitch during 15-year mission to study interstellar border, Intense solar storm supercharges auroras over UK and more (photos), Pictures from space! He was 94. Eugene Claire Parker was born January 8th, 1936 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Like Chandra, Gene was not only a great physicist but at the same time he remained humble and approachable: till today I recall that whenever I was anxiously knocking his door to report on my research results, Gene would willingly interrupt his work to chat with me. Big Brains podcast:Why Mourning Is Essential to Our Well-Being. He loved his job and he would tell you that when he discovered physics, he would have done it as a side gig because he enjoyed it so much. Gene always said that after his father died that he was the patriarch of his line of the Parkers and the first born with his fathers new name. Funeral service will be held 1:00 pm on Friday, February 3, 2023 at Miller Funeral Home - downtown, 507 S. Main Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD. Eugene "Gene" Anthony Parker of Antioch, Illinois, died peacefully in his home with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 9, 2022 after a full life of 83 years. Thomas Eugene Parker, age 68, of Norman, Oklahoma passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2023. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. But his children most remembered him as an involved dad and an avid hiker, camper and craftsman who carved busts of famous figures from wood and made much of the familys furniture. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Obituaries. He gave up after several years when COPD got the best of his breathing. Even though Dr. Parker is no longer with us, his discoveries and legacy will live forever.". He began his education at Polk Elementary School where he met Lynne Rich, his future wife, in the first grade. Additionally, he correctly predicted the twisted shape that the rotating suns magnetic field would take as the solar wind carried it to the outer solar system, which is now called the Parker spiral. Dr. Parker recalled in 2018 that his solar wind theory was widely criticized and even mocked at publication. He was the expert on magnetism in the universe and understood it better than anyone else.. Additional Legal Information Regarding Veterans Offerings, CloseAdditional Legal Information Regarding Veterans Offerings, Subscribe to the 12 Weeks of Peace E-Newsletter, Subscribe to the Thinking Ahead E-Newsletter, A Guide to Cremation and Burial for Veterans, Unique Ways to Memorialize Cremation Ashes, A Complete Guide for When A Loved One Passes, The Essential Veteran Death Benefits and Memorialization Guide, California Residents Goods and Services Info. Eugene "Gene" Lawrence Parker, Jr. was born August 21, 1930 in Highland Park, Michigan. The mission is expected to continue observations until 2025. McGilley & Frye Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. His family plans to attend the ceremony on Parkers behalf. He said, Absolutely. A photo posted by Deion Sanders (@deionsanders) on Mar 31, 2016 at 9:56pm PDT. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. The Parker Solar Probes successful launch which Dr. Parker attended at age 91 has since provided unprecedented views of the sun. NASA's Parker Solar Probe is currently the fastest spacecraft ever launched. Parker, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in November, was known as the most prominent and distinguished African-American agent. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. After completing a bachelors degree in physics at Michigan State University in 1948 and a doctorate at the California Institute of Technology in 1951, Dr. Parker was an instructor and then an assistant professor at the University of Utah before moving in 1955 to the University of Chicago, where he remained for the rest of his academic career. Eugene M Parker, age 92, of Longmont, Colorado passed away on Saturday, October 29, 2022. In 1955, Parker joined the University of Chicago, where he contributed to astrophysics for another 67 years, according to the university's statement (opens in new tab). The paper might not have been published but for Parkers colleague at the University, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. Running through the math, he determined the conditions should produce a supersonic flow of particles off the suns surface. Parker went on to revolutionize the field of astrophysics, unraveling the complex physics behind magnetic fields in space and the dynamics of plasma. Robert was born June 6, 1926. The observational verification of the solar wind theory (1958) is a unique example in astrophysics, due to its immediate and brief confirmation by observations (1962). It blankets the planets, protecting us from harmful radiationbut also occasionally disrupting our communications, in the case of solar flares. He was 94. The Parker Solar Probe, named after Dr. Parker, being mated to a third-stage rocket motor in Titusville, Fla., in July 2018. Harold Eugene Miley August 20, 1939 - February 28, 2023 Obituary He. Our image of the day, Your monthly guide to stargazing & space science, Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with code 'LOVE5', Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, Eugene Parker changed Jets history with one phone call. Keith Eugene Parker Obituary With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Keith Eugene Parker (High Point, North Carolina), born in Laurens, South Carolina, who passed away on November 10, 2022 at the age of 61. (Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben), SpaceX Crew-6 astronaut launch: Live updates, What's inside the sun? Over the past 47+ years, our experienced team has assisted families, their loved ones, and caregivers in carrying out final wishes more affordably, with dignity and respect.