Obituary of Hal (Harold) Richard Jandorf

Harold Richard Jandorf was born in New York and lived most of his life in Southern California. As a child he developed a love for science, especially focused on Astronomy, the study of the Cosmos and the night sky. He had a great love of music and in the late ‘60s he played the keyboard in a band called “Gas Supply”. He graduated college with a degree in engineering and started work as an engineer for Rockwell. There he helped design parts for the space shuttle. He later worked as an engineer for the US Navy. For over 40 years he was an Astronomy professor at Moorpark College and Valley College. He co-wrote an Astronomy lab book that is still being used today in colleges across the country. At Moorpark College, he designed and helped to build the Charles Temple Observatory, which is one of the only fully functional Astronomy laboratories in Southern California and has connected hundreds of thousands of students, amateur astronomers, and community members to the stars. It was at this observatory in Moorpark that thousands of community members looked through a telescope for the first time. He also gave lectures and Astronomy demonstrations at hundreds of elementary schools, planetariums, parks, and museums. His astrophotos were on display and for sale at both Kennedy Space Center and at the Griffith Park Observatory. After Astronomy, his second passion was for sports cars. He loved to drive the “twisty” roads and was a part of multiple car clubs whose members also enjoyed driving curvy canyon roads. His main passion was always to inspire and encourage people’s interest in the universe and to share his knowledge about the stars, planets and galaxies. Hal is survived by his wife of 17 years, Terry Jandorf, his daughter Maureen (Juston) Proffer, sons Brian and Patrick (Jori) Jandorf, Stepson Troy (Maria) Williamson, grandchildren Elizabeth Jandorf, Samantha and Brendan Proffer, and Savannah Williamson, nieces and nephews Linda, Judy and John Clevenger, Barbara (Howard) Dully, Uriah and Portia Clevenger and Sabrina Clevenger. He was preceded in death by his parents Hannah and Albert Jandorf, his sister Mickey Clevenger and brother Lee Jandorf, and niece and grandnephew Cathy and Charlie Brooks. Hal requested a memorial star party be held in his honor at Mt. Pinos, where he frequently went to enjoy dark skies and deep space observations with family, friends, and students and a celebration of life is being put together. Details will be shared when arrangements are finalized.