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Chemist Who Worked on the Hubble Space Telescope

Joe Colony ’59

August 3, 2024, in Hagerstown, Maryland, of complications from Parkinson’s disease.

Joe spent most of his young life in Oregon and put himself through school at Reed, earning a degree in chemistry and writing his thesis, “Ionization Detection for Gas Chromatography,” under Prof. Frederick D. Tabbutt [chemistry 1957–71]. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army.

While working at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Joe had the good fortune to meet his future wife, Peggy, on a blind date. Though it was not exactly love at first sight (Joe did not like Peggy’s outfit, and Peggy thought he was too quiet), it wasn’t long before the pair fell in love.

Joe worked as a chemist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for most of his career, notably on the Hubble Space Telescope, which first launched in 1990. Though he was a man of few words (Peggy was right about that on their first date), he was kind, witty, and razor-smart.

Joe died at 87 and is survived by his wife of 62 years, Peggy, and his children, David, Michael, and Patrick.

Appeared in Reed magazine: Spring 2025

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