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Patrick was born November 19, 1940, in Robinson, Illinois, to Margaret Effalee (Siler) and Carl Durwood Kirkwood and later adopted by his mother's second husband Virgil LeRoy McIntosh. He graduated from Robinson High School in 1958, where he won first in the state Bausch and Lomb science competition for his research into sunspots. He was awarded a scholarship to Harvard University and later graduated in 1962 with a degree in astronomy.
He went on to write two books on sunspots and complied over fifty years of sunspot maps. The scale used to measure sunspots, the McIntosh scale, was named after him. A digital compilation of his sunspot maps, "The McIntosh Archives", is currently underway and will be included in the National Archives. His work led him to travel extensively through both eastern and western Europe, and he spent several months in China and Australia helping set up early warning systems to detect sunspot disruptions to communications systems.
He is survived by his son Daniel (Tonya) McIntosh of Highlands Ranch, CO, daughter Elisabeth (Ronald) Schmidt and grandsons Taylor Schmidt and Walker Schmidt of Littleton, CO, brother Michael (Gwen) McIntosh of Rohnert Park, California, sister Becky (Dean) Adams of Clinton, Illinois and brother John Wesley "Jack" (Deborah) McIntosh of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, along with two nieces and two nephews.
Memorial service to be held Friday October 21, 2016 at 11:30am at New Day Covenant Church located at 2801 Jay Road, Boulder, CO 80301. Burial will follow immediately after at Mountain View Cemetery in the Cremation Garden with reception to follow back at the church. Arrangements under the direction of Crist Mortuary, Boulder, CO.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
August 22, 2017
Judit Pap
Pat,
My name is Judit Pap. I learned over the internet only now about your departure from this world. I was a very close worker with Pat, I lived in Colorado and worked at NOAA. I used his sunspot classification system in my PhD thesis which was completed back in Hungary. I will always remember for him with my full heart. He was the nicest person I knew and a great scientist.
Please accept my condolences even when it comes this late.
Thank you,
Judit Pap
July 21, 2017
Kjell Inge Malde
The founder of Zürich/McIntosh classifications has passed away.
It is with great regret I notice that Dr Patrick S. McIntosh has passed away.
The revised Wolf-system of the now 7 main classes and later modified by Dr Patrick McIntosh to contain 60 classes
describing the magnetic structure, shape and sunspot distribution was frist tried out in 1966 and commonly used from 1967.
The system is used daily from all solar observatories performing classifications of sunspot groups.
My first attempt establishing a numeric system for the above mentioned sunspot classifications started in July 1978
and study completed on 15 August 1981, from where the CV-Classification Values after Malde originated.
During my study period I was in contact with Dr McIntosh several times and up until 1999.
I have read many of his articles and amongst other investigated the frequencies of each individual classification
from the data that exist on ftp's and originating from many of the world's solar observatories.
My contact with Patrick was indeed a very good and memorable one and he shall be sadly missed.
May he rest in peace and let us all be thankful for his great work for solar astronomy.
- Kjell Inge Malde, Director, CV-Helios Network -
* 21 July 2017 *
January 18, 2017
Judy Krathwohl
I was saddened to hear of Patrick's passing. I graduated with him from Robinson, IL High. He was a very nice guy!!!!!
October 26, 2016
Pat and I co-edited the first book (MIT Press, 1970) on space weather forecasting after I organized an AIAA-sponsored symposium in Huntstville, AL. In fact, our preface is the first place where the words "space weather" are mentioned according to a paper by R. Kane in Adv. Space Res.,2006. Pat and I educated each other in SEL/Boulder on sunspots and solar wind, respectively. He was a delight to work with in the old upstairs/downstairs relationship in those pioneering days. I offer my condolences to Judy and the family.
October 25, 2016
Zdenka Smith
My sincerest sympathies to Pat's family. I knew him, from my arrival at SEL in 1970 to his retirement, as a valued friend and colleague: so knowledgeable and dedicated to compilation of exact sunspot drawings. I am delighted his legacy lives on.
October 22, 2016
I am so sorry for your loss. I did not know Pat personally, but knew his mother and admired her greatly. My in-laws, Willard and Grace Mewmaw were neighbors of his parents, Virgil and Margaret (Peg) MacIntosh.
Sharon Mewmaw, Oswego, IL.
October 21, 2016
Ansa Heckman
I have known Pat since 1970s when my husband started to work with him. I have great memories of him and the family. My condolences to the family
October 21, 2016
Sarah Gibson
I heard about Pat's death this week, shortly after presenting a talk on the archive of his amazing solar synoptic maps at an international meeting. He gave so much to the field of solar physics, and I have many fond memories of working and talking with him. He was a great guy.
October 21, 2016
Mark Bradford
I'm one of the students that Bob McFadden took to meet Pat at the Space Environment Center. I've always fondly remembered the opportunity he gave us to look at the active Sun, with its flares and prominences and spots, through the hydrogen-alpha telescope. I offer my sincere condolences for the loss of a man who was a fine scientist and educator.
October 21, 2016
KD Leka
Pat was such a patient and enthusiastic mentor, he so positively influenced myself and many young scientists in the early years of space-weather science. I miss his wisdom, his encouragement (and his sarcasm); I feel privileged to have known and worked with him.
October 20, 2016
Dave Webb
I have known Pat as a friend and fellow scientist since the early 1970s when we met during the Skylab program. Whenever I visited Boulder I would stay with him and we would have great times. My wife, son and I spent time in Boulder in the 1980s and he hosted us at his house several times. I am involved with a grant to preserve as his legacy the solar maps which he made famous during his long career. Condolences to his daughter and son.
October 20, 2016
Bob McFadden
I first met Pat when I took students to visit him when he was working at the Space Environment Center. He always went out of his way to make these visits positive experiences. Later, when I began working for him doing solar mapping, just about everything I know about solar physics, I learned from Pat. At least one former student now works at NCAR. His legacy continues.
October 20, 2016
William Barrett
I am sorry to hear of his passing. I enjoyed working with him at NOAA's Space Environment Center in the last decades of the twentieth century.
October 20, 2016
Ian Hewins
I'm so sorry for your loss. Pat was a good friend, teacher and mentor. My life is much better because of him. I have the honour and privilege to be part of a team publishing his maps. He will be remembered fondly and his scientific work will be used in solar research for many years to come.
October 19, 2016
Chuck (now Charlie) DeWeese
Condolences to the family. Sounds like Pat followed his dream through life around the world; great way to live.
October 19, 2016
Very sorry for your family loss. I am a relative . Virgil & Margaret (Peg) McIntosh were my great Uncle &Aunt. Always loved visiting their home as a child.
Brenda Badgley Myer
October 19, 2016
Roger Trout
So sorry to hear of his passing.We send our prayers to your family.
October 19, 2016
Raymond Lawhead
So sorry to hear of your loss. I was a classmate,I`m only 2 months older. I always admired him during school, He was a great kid.
Raymond Lawhead, Falmouth,Ky.
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