Love The Horvatins planted 3 trees in memory of Blake Nancarrow

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Condolences to the family for your loss. Blake was a good friend. You will not be forgotten Bla! Dinner and a show.! Shine bright in your night sky!

Rhonda planted 3 trees in memory of Blake Nancarrow

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

My heart goes out to Marie, Donna, Steve and all of Blake's extended family. Love and Hugs, Rhonda

Bill uploaded photo(s)

Sunday, October 15, 2023

Clear Skies Blake

Donna and Steve planted a tree in memory of Blake Nancarrow

Saturday, September 16, 2023

For our Brother, the green earth hugger

Caroline King posted a condolence

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Blake was a teacher at heart, generously sharing his knowledge and empowering others. He introduced me to the incredible beauty of the night sky. He will be remembered and missed. Caroline King

Dale Armstrong posted a condolence

Sunday, September 10, 2023

I met Blake when I joined the RASC’s National Observing Committee in 2018. At that time, Blake was working on creating a Double Star Certificate – a wonderful legacy to the RASC. This was an important project for several reasons. First, it’s a programme that someone should have tackled about a hundred years ago! Second, it’s an excellent certificate for new observers, especially people living in cities who want a project they can complete under bright urban skies. When Blake moved to St. Thomas, he emailed me and said: “Being in wonderful St Thomas now begs that I join the London Centre! I wanted to ask you why I should join. Heh. So, do your sales pitch.” And so we emailed back and forth, and had one long telephone conversation about the club. I must have made a good pitch because he joined the London Centre and became an enthusiastic contributor to our forum discussions. He also did a great talk for the club, in May, about his experience using the robotic telescope at the Burke-Gaffney Observatory. None of us knew he was ill, and everyone was looking forward to meeting him in September at what is to be our first in-person meeting since 2020. Sadly, we will not get to do so. As he said to me in that early email exchange, he loved: “Hanging out with astronomers, clinking pint glasses with peers, sharing views through the eyepiece…” His enthusiasm for astronomy touched many people. As one of our members noted just this past week: “he was always so helpful and eager to share what he knew.”

Dale Posted Sep 27, 2023 at 11:48 AM

London RASC now has Blake's talk, from May, up on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yeDHN2Khu4

Dale Posted Oct 3, 2023 at 11:22 AM

In May, Blake also did a very nice presentation for the Halifax RASC on observing certificate programmes (starting at 1:06): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zdzbPHPw1Y

Denise Chilton planted a tree in memory of Blake Nancarrow

Friday, September 8, 2023

I treasure my memories of astronomy outreach with Blake at the DDO. He was a superb pilot of the 74" telescope, and I'm grateful for his mentorship.

Scott Hall uploaded photo(s)

Friday, September 8, 2023

A big part of my experiences with Blake all involve driving and racing. I met Blake through another track buddy in the 90's and for years we were driving and instructing with BMW in Canada and the US about 25 days/year. Lots of laughs, adventure and shared experiences. Blake was an accomplished advanced driver, instructor and racer and was the Chief Instructor for the Saab Club of Canada driving schools. He took a group with falling interest and enrollment and within 2 years had a constant stream of full, sold out events contributing greatly to the club. When I was racing and needed a crew chief for the weekend - Blake was it! I completely trusted him and and he knew all of the details needed to make the weekend run smoothly, with a laugh. His students raved about him as he was a natural coach. He was happy to help anyone gain knowledge on skills he was passionate about, software/technology, astronomy and advanced driving. He was a regular at our High Park poker games and always brought something interesting to sip on and lots of laughs! He was a good friend and I am going to miss him.

Dominic Valois lit a candle

Friday, September 8, 2023

Very sorry to hear of Blake's passing. Indeed a very good guy. I knew him from the BMW club driving schools and always liked him. RIP dear Blake. My sincere condolences to his family and dear friends alike. Dominic Valois

Alexa Clark uploaded photo(s)

Friday, September 8, 2023

We got almost 3 hours with him mid-July down in St. Thomas to sit and talk and talk and talk. As we always have. I'd been waiting to hear back from him on getting together (waiting about a year, as one does with good friends) when I found out he'd been ill most of that time. I'm dropping my Facebook tribute here - I hope that's okay) Everything Blake did, he did with intensity and intention. He was a Psion-pusher, horror movie night host, competitive driver, foodie and friend. His deepest focus was the stars. He helped launch the Astronomer In Residence Program in Killarney and was their first Astronomer doing both Astronomy and tech support (cuz, well he was Blake)! https://www.yorku.ca/science/observatory/blog/blake-nancarrow/ (Check the photos - so incredible!) Lately, he was working on raising the visibility of work on Double Star Measurement. http://blog.lumpydarkness.com/search/label/double%20stars Blake has been a special part of my life since I was 19. First day, second term of university. Blake was a part of so much of our life Solstice events, dim sum birthdays, Waterloo, CheapEats launches, holiday dinners at our house, BBQ & Sangria parties... pretty much everything we did that was social Blake was there. His loss leaves a hole in our world.

Jody Stocks planted a tree in memory of Blake Nancarrow

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Many fun memories of you Blake. May you live on among the stars!

David Bird posted a condolence

Thursday, September 7, 2023

I am so sorry to learn of Blake's death. I took one of his Stellarium courses and am very grateful for his generosity of time to helping so many find even more joy in the past time of astronomy that brings awe and wonder.

Colin Haig posted a condolence

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Blake was a friend to astronomers, a source of wisdom, and with a quick wit. He will be sorely missed.

Bohdan Kinczyk posted a condolence

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Blake was one of the bright lights in an exceptionally strong English class I was lucky enough to teach in my first year at CECI. He was witty, he was engaged, his poetry & fiction so strong they were featured prominently & regularly in Paper Rain, our creative writing journal. He often signed his pieces Worracnan. Mostly, though, Blake was a genuinely good, genuinely kind person. I feel lucky—grateful—to have known him. Bohdan Kinczyk

Donna Nancarrow Posted Sep 7, 2023 at 1:10 PM

I know Blake considered you his favourite teacher. Thank you, Donna Nancarrow

Rhonda Gribbon posted a condolence

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Blake was such a kind, thoughtful, loving and gentle soul and will be dearly missed. He shone brighter than the stars and planets when giving talks and star parties, whether in the backyard, at a cottage or the various astronomical observatories he volunteered at. Don't forget to 'Look Up'!

Rhonda Gribbon uploaded photo(s)

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Gene Milone Posted Sep 7, 2023 at 5:53 PM

I had not known Blake long, but ever since I signed up to learn the details of the Stellarium planetarium program, I found out what a generous and genuinely helpful person he was. On July 24, he convened a special jam session to discuss with those of us who had recently taken all three Stellarium classes some of the more nuanced treasures that lay within that software's scope. His enthusiasm and commitment were a joy for those of us who were involved in the experience.

Bruce Kosugi posted a condolence

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

My condolences to Blake's family and many friends. I knew Blake through his many online RASC astronomy-related talks. He was generous in sharing his knowledge with our community and the public. I wish I could have had the chance to meet Blake in person. Thank you, Blake!

Stuart Silcox uploaded photo(s)

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Blake was an amazing soul who brought so much life and energy to those around him. We'll miss him dearly and look back on all the great times, like when he brought a love of astronomy to our kids when he brought his telescope along on group camping trips. Our deepest condolences to his family during these tough times. Stuart Silcox & Laurie Wark

Alan Hahn uploaded photo(s)

Tuesday, September 5, 2023