Jan Hendrik Oort (1900-1992)

With the death of Jan Hendrik Oort on 1992 November 5, at the age of 92 years, the astronomical community lost one of its most distinguished members. In a span of 70 years of creative activity, Oort witnessed, and contributed to, the development of our picture of the cosmos from one limited to ill-defined borders of our Galaxy, to the remote depths of the universe. He shared his intellectual gifts, his inspiration, and his enthusiasm for the science of his -choice with numerous colleagues, young and old all over the world. For many of them, his passing away means the loss of a dear and highly respected friend. Oort was the Catherine Wolfe Bruce medalist of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in 1942, now a half a century ago!