Former resident, astronomer at Smithsonian Observatory in Harvard
Joe Caruso. (Courtesy photo)
Joseph (Joe) R. Caruso, 74, of Newburgh, Indiana, died Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at home with his wife, Karen, by his bedside. Joe was born in Troy, Ohio, on Feb. 3, 1947, to the late Joseph C. and Kathryn (Arshen) Caruso.
Joe was a 1965 graduate of Greenon High School in Ohio; a 1969 graduate of Kent State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in ancient history; and a 1986 graduate of Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where he earned a master’s degree in science/astronomy.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy (radar, navigator), Joe served three months on the USS Savannah (commissioning crew) and three years on the USS Concord, 1970 to 1973, with the U.S. 6th Fleet.
Joe spent a few years working as a substitute teacher in Elmira, New York, but spent his nights learning astronomy. He became an adjunct professor of astronomy at Elmira College and thus began his new career. He worked at Talcott Mountain Science Center in Avon, Connecticut, as an astronomy instructor and then on to an astronomy job at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where he was a research assistant and teacher.
His next job brought him to the town of Harvard, to work for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory running the 61-inch telescope and the 84-foot radio telescope. In addition to his work on the telescope, he conducted many public tours of the facility and grounds. While in New England, Joe was a speaker at numerous star parties, adult education classes, and a judge at local science fairs. Because of Joe’s tireless efforts as an astronomy teacher for more than 25 years, he was awarded the Las Cumbres Amateur Outreach Award by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for contributions to astronomy education and outreach in the greater Boston area.
Joe and Karen spent many enjoyable years together, moving to different towns in the Northeast, traveling the U.S., and visiting Europe on several occasions. Joe looked into the eye of a North Atlantic right whale, flew in a hot air balloon, studied the stars and moon, drove Mustangs, sailed the high seas, studied maps, read so many books, continued to learn and teach others, and loved his wife, Karen.
Joe is survived by Karen, his wife of 46 years ; sisters, Fran Lytras of Jamaica, New York, and Barbara (Jean) Cazorla of Elmira Heights, New York; and several nieces and nephews.
A military burial will take place at 11 a.m. in Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana, on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Following the burial, a celebration of life gathering will be held at Alexander Newburgh Chapel from noon until 2 p.m.
Condolences may be made and the full obituary viewed at www.AlexanderNewburghChapel.com.
.
