[Dennis and David]

Dennis Loomis, Magician

 Dennis shown here with his friend and colleague David Copperfield is a professional magician. He is one of our oldest friends from Alma College where we met in 1962. Currently, Dennis performs in Las Vegas and various other venues in the west. His magic has entertained many thousands at schools and fund raisers as he travels hundreds of thousands of miles touring the western US. A creative craftsman, Dennis has fabricated illusions for world renowned performers.
N.B. In attempting to contact Dad's friends to inform them of his passing, the Nordrum family was very saddened to discover that our dear friend Dennis had passed away. He was a brilliant and loving man and magician. He is missed dearly and our hearts and thoughts for comfort are with Dennis's family and friends.

Jim Gordon, Web Magician

I've known Jim since the early Eighty's when we met at Point 4 Data. Currently, Jim is back to working in his first profession as musician and technical guru for his friends. He performs weekly at a local venue in San Juan Capistrano playing jazz on keyboard with a friend. Jim is helping friends produce their CD's and creating their web-sites. When I met Jim he had become a software wizard doing a variety of projects include the control software for a video editing system. He lives nearby with his wonderful wife Phyllis.

Photo by Beth Gwin

S.P. Somtow, Author/Composer/Filmmaker

When I first met Somtow, I knew him as an author of science fiction including Mallworld, a book I love. I soon discovered that he was also a film producer, director, actor, musician, composer, writer, and director. Visit his site to learn about his films, ballet, opera, and other works of this distinguished Thai and multidimensional genius. Currently, Somtow lives both in LA and Bangkok where he is Composer-in-Residence at Mahidol University.

Pete Meek, Serious boater

Pete is another of my friends from Alma College. Pete and his wife Eva live in Ypsilanti, MI where they are building a fantastic new house with a two story library and attached observatory. As the picture shows, Pete loves boating and is involved in protecting the Lake St. Claire ecosystem. Pete is the most voracious reader I know consuming several feet worth of books weekly.

Chris Butler, Artist

I have been fortunate to know Chris from the days when he began coming to Orange County Astronomers with his dad, Bob, showing their pseudo-astrophotography (astronomical art). Now Chris is a professional artist specializing in astronomical art with diversions into paleontological and nautical art. He works at LA's Griffith Observatory as an artist for exhibits and planetarium shows. Chris and his bride Tracy settled in OC. He is a regular part of OCA meetings with his entertaining "What's Up".

Don Dixon, Artist

I first met Don when he was the Artist Guest of Honor at the 1984 LOSCON SF convention. That year John Brunner was the Author Guest of Honor and Don had done the cover painting for his new book The Tides of Time. Don works for LA's Griffith Observatory like Chris Butler and another artist friend, Bob Kline. He also does quite a bit of art for NASA, book covers, magazines (Scientific American, Sky and Telescope, Astronomy), and commissions from private parties including astronauts and NASA staff.

David and Billie Chandler

David and Billie are amateur astronomers who have a wonderful business creating astronomy aids in the David Chandler Company. David is the creator of Deep Space the observer-oriented star mapping and telescope control software.