Douglas Arthur Gegen

Born in Miami, FL he was the son of the late Robert and Jean Gegen. Doug graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Physics. He began his career at the Miami Space Transit Planetarium; from there he ventured to the Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory at Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky. In 1986 he read an article about a 23 inch Alvan Clark Refractor Telescope that was going to be restored in Greenville, SC. Upon hire he became the Staff Astronomer at Roper Mountain Science Center at the Daniel Observatory until his retirement in 2011.

Doug was the founder of Roper Mountain Astronomers, an amateur astronomy club at the Science Center. He was a member of the International Antique Telescope Society.

Surviving is the love of his life for 30 years Cynthia Childers. His extended family includes Randy and Karen Childers; Lauren Nulph and Emily and Eric Pitt; he was “Uncle Doug” to Max, Brandon and Natalie Nulph and Ethan and Emma Kate Pitt. Additional survivors are his aunts Elizabeth Armitage and Marilyn Hodgson; cousins Danielle Chapman, Denise Johnsen, Bob Hodgson and Bill Hodgson; and “2nd cousin” Valerie Levandar.

A special thank you is extended to Scott Smith for being our Angel on Earth for the past 18 months.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 11:00am at The Mackey Mortuary. Visitation will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Doug’s name to the Roper Mountain Astronomers, PO Box 25665, Greenville, SC 29616-0665; or Compassus Hospice, 1923 E. Main St., Suite B, Duncan, SC 29334.

The Mackey Mortuary. Online guest registry available at www.mackeymortuary.com