I met Allen in 1994 at an astronomical meeting, where he was chairing one session and asked me how to my name was correctly pronounced. I was very impressed at that time that such a distinguished scientist took care to ensure that the name of very new postdoc was correctly pronounced. Now I know that this courtesy was typical for him. When I came to Baltimore for a year our contact got closer and over time we became good friends, even though I was back at Germany. I could visit him for our collaboration several times and I still remember one situation in the late 1990's. I had overlooked that one day of my stay at GSFC was a public holiday in the US, during which no foreigners were allowed to enter. During his arguing with security on the phone he exclaimed at one point "But she's from Germany - they are on our side!" and he finally managed to convince them to let me in.
He helped me in many difficult situations like the deaths of my parents, but also rejoiced with me at good times like getting an indefinite contract. Covid-19 prevented a meeting in spring 2020 and our hopes that we could meet some time later went sadly unfulfilled. I miss him very much but I am glad that he had loved ones with him at the end.  

Nearly half a century ago, Allen and I shared an office in Building 21 of the Goddard Space Flight Center.  During this time, I got to know him well.  As a scientist, he was committed about excellence.  Careful about selecting important problems to solve, working on them with resolve, but extreme care, and meticulous about writing the resulting papers with clarity and thoroughness.  You could really trust his results, Besides that, I got to see his humanity.  His love of music was evident, and we shared his joy when he purchased his beloved piano.  He explained to me the difficulties of playing some Schumann pieces.  I witnessed his joy when, after careful research, he purchased his first Camry.  We became good friends.
Subsequently, our jobs led us to different destinations.  Our contacts decreased to occasional phone calls, although my wife Tara and I were able to share with him the most important event in his life, his marriage to Tamsen.  But I followed up his subsequent work, and learned a lot from them.
I will miss you dear friend.  May you Rest in Peace.



It is very saddening to hear about Allen’s passing.  I was talking to him only a few weeks ago on Christmas Day. In some earlier phone calls, we were recollecting about the good time we had while I was in Goddard. I thought he was doing quite well and would not have expected this bad news to came so soon. He was a very nice person, a helpful colleague, and a great friend.  He was the most careful and conscientious stellar astrophysicist I have ever known. The stellar community will miss his valuable contributions. We all will miss his subtle humorous chats, but he will stay with us in our memory. 
Condolences to Tamsen and family.

Kwing L. Chan
Klchan@must.edu.mo

Allen  was always interested in what was taking place in your life more than his. Will miss his visits to us. He was a very sincere person who valued friendships as a blessing. We will miss brother.

Allen was always interested in stellar physics, and clearly had the same love of this subject that I felt towards solar physics. I really valued his scientific enthusiasm. He was a colleague I valued very highly.

I am very sad to hear Allen’s passing.  Allen was my friend and my colleague at the Goddard Space Flight Center.  I was friends with Allen even before he met Tamsen.  During the last few decades, I shared Allen’s excitement meeting Tamsen for the first time in a parking lot outside his apartment complex, saw Allen getting married, celebrated the birth of his two beautiful kids, felt very proud to see our children graduate from colleges/graduate schools. He also introduced me to shoofly pie, a favorite dessert from his home state Pennsylvania.  Allen was a handsome gentleman who loved playing Schubert piano pieces and devoted his energy doing the Hubble space telescope and stellar research work.  He was a very loving husband and father.  During the last phone conversation with Allen right after Thanksgiving 2021, he told me that he arranged for a company to replace the water heater in his house so that Tamsen has one fewer thing to take care of in the long run.

‘Never truly gone, always in our hearts’ – May Tamsen and the family find comfort and peace during this sorrowful time.

Maria So & John Edmonds


OBITUARY

Allen Victor Sweigart

5 February, 1944 – 1 February, 2022

Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home

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