In Memoriam – Landon T. Clay
The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) lost a true friend and generous supporter with the passing of Landon T. Clay on July 29, 2017.
Mr. Clay's relationship with Harvard began in the 1940s, when he studied English as an undergraduate. He would return multiple times during his lifetime to support his alma mater, as a Harvard College overseer from 1985-1991 and as a benefactor to mathematics and science programs over many decades. A gift to the Harvard College Observatory Magellan Telescope project and a position on the Smithsonian National Board from 1991-1997 led naturally to establishing a relationship with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) as well.
Mr. Clay and his wife, Lavinia, established the Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at SAO in 2000, which has supported the work of over 20 junior astronomers.
"Mr. Clay's keen interest and dedication to scientific progress have led to numerous breakthrough discoveries in a variety of fields, but one of his greatest contributions was the strong support of young scientists," reflected Dr. Christian Johnson, Clay Fellow.
The Clay family, which includes the couple's four children, enjoyed attending the annual Clay Colloquium, where they had an opportunity to interact with the scientists they supported and to hear about their research.
"In order to fulfill our desire to understand the world we need to have the freedom to do creative, interesting work, scientific or otherwise. This means taking risks and trying new things. This is only possible if we can wonder without pressure and stress. I am grateful to the Clay family for giving me this opportunity through their generous support," said Dr. Jabran Zahid, who presented at the Clay Colloquium this past May. "I was grateful that I had the opportunity to thank Mr. Clay in person for his support; it was an honor and a pleasure. I was impressed by his genuine curiosity about my work and his deep appreciation for mathematics and its ability to address the mysteries of the universe. He saw beauty in mathematics and this aesthetic appreciation is exemplified by his generosity."
As Dr. Johnson added, "In this light, Mr. Clay's support of the Clay Fellowship program, the Magellan-Clay telescope, and the upcoming Giant Magellan Telescope are testaments to his recognition that personnel and facilities play critical roles in achieving the greater objective of scientific advancement. Mr. Clay's presence and vision within the CfA community will be sorely missed."
"Mr. Clay was committed to curiosity driven research," said CfA Director Charles Alcock. "He was an inquisitive man; generous and thoughtful. We have lost a great friend."