In Memorium: Al Nagler 1935-2025

Al Nagler was a living legend to those of us in the field of astronomy. He was an optical engineer, born in the Bronx and at one point in his life he designed simulators used in the Apollo program.  Later in life he founded a company called "Tele Vue" which eventually designed and sold the best eyepieces in the business, back when I started in astronomy in 1988.  They also made small refracting telescopes which were absolutely superb instruments.  When you looked through "normal eyepieces" the field of view was about 50 degrees.  Not satisfied with that, in 1982 Al designed the "Nagler" series of eyepieces which had a field of view of 82 degrees!  He liked to call them "Spacewalk" eyepieces because you were no longer aware of the edge of the field - it was as if you were in outer space.  He was a philanthropist, and someone who devoted his time, resources and heart to amateur astronomy.  I would see him twice a year, first at the Northeast Astronomy Forum in April and then every year at Stellafane, in Vermont.  In 1993 at Stellafane, I won second prize for my design of a folding telescope that could be carried in the overhead on an airplane, when I went to Australia.  The next morning at breakfast, Al contgratulated me for my design and asked how many times I had entered a telescope in the competition.  I said it was my first time.  He said he was really impressed - he didn't win a prize in the competition until I think he said his fourth or fifth time entering!  He was such a generous man and a font of knowledge.  In  my photograph, above he is talking to two amateurs at NEAF last April, and one of his refractors is in the middle of the photograph.  What a wonderful human being!  It will not be the same to attend these events and no longer be able to stop by to chat with him.