Sam Andrews, a DAS member and Outreach Volunteer for many years, passed away on January 24, 2026. We knew Sam as a warm-hearted fellow who was passionate about sharing the night sky with others. In spite of his 6’ 8” frame, he was gentle and soft-spoken. Even little kids were at ease when they looked through his telescope, as they could sense his kind spirit.

A more subtle quality was an interest in doing things well—in the DAS, Sam often brought his 7-inch Maksutov telescope, so folks could see the planets clearly and comfortably. (Larger Maks like this can be demanding to operate, but they’re famous for their sharpness.) Rather than compromise on the quality of the view, he hauled out the over 100 pounds of optics, mount, and counterweights necessary to properly support the telescope, and many DAS members still remember looking through that Mak with Sam.

Astronomy wasn’t the only field that Sam was interested in. The same love of quality and precision lent itself to careers as a machinist and later as an engineer. Sam spent decades designing and building lasers professionally, including projects that included speed guns for police departments, laser tools for calculating the size and density of trees for the Forestry Department, and rangefinders for the Bushnell Corporation.

He had other hobbies as well, including skiing, motorcycles, bike riding, photography, knife sharpening, and shooting. Displayed in his home were awards and trophies for these pursuits, a quiet testament to the depth of his interest in all these fields.

Sam’s family will lay him to rest with his parents and sisters in Palmer, Nebraska… But some part of him will stay with us, always.

There will be an informal remembrance for Sam Andrews at IHOP (1595 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80222) for brunch/lunch at 1200 PM on Sunday, February 22, 2026.