COMPASSE acknowledges the recent passing of Dr. David L. Crawford, a longtime astronomer at Kitt Peak National Observatory and founder of DarkSky International (formerly the International Dark-Sky Association). In many respects, Dr. Crawford was the founder of the modern dark-sky movement, and we owe much to his vision and leadership. We thank DarkSky International for allowing us to repost excerpts of its tribute to Dr. Crawford below. The tribute was written by his friend and IDA co-founder, Dr. Tim Hunter.
The world recently lost a visionary in David L. Crawford, founder of DarkSky International (formerly the International Dark-Sky Association). While his passing marks the end of an era, his legacy lives on in the stars. Crawford’s lifelong dedication to promoting responsible outdoor lighting practices has led to healthier communities, more energy-efficient cities, and a new commitment to preserving the beauty of the night sky.
Dave was the Executive Director of the International Dark-Sky Association (now DarkSky International) for approximately 20 years. He literally and figuratively traveled around the world fighting light pollution and advocating quality nighttime lighting. Prior to meeting him, Dave had established what would become a life-long relationship with professional lighting engineers and became a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), the recognized technical and educational authority on illumination. He wanted to learn about lighting and work with professionals who designed and installed lighting. His goal was to make friends, not enemies.
Dave won many prestigious awards for his efforts, including an Honorary Doctorate from the New England College of Optometry in 2004 and the IES Medal Award in 2021, recognizing his work in protecting the world from environmental and astronomical impacts of light pollution and anthropogenic light at night.
Dave brought the issues of light pollution, light trespass, and quality nighttime lighting to the forefront of public awareness. He worked tirelessly for IDA, even enlisting his family in the cause. For many years, IDA’s headquarters was his house, with boxes of papers, notebooks, computers, light fixtures, slides, pamphlets, and books spread throughout his living room, home office, and work office at the Kitt Peak National Observatory headquarters in Tucson. Mary, his beloved wife, was an invaluable support throughout this endeavor, though I suspect she felt a sense of relief when IDA finally established its own separate office.
Good outdoor nighttime lighting is a “win-win-win situation”, quoting Dave. It is a win for the user, a win for those who design, sell, and install the fixtures, and a win for the sky. Because of Dave, IES and many professional lighting engineers have become the strongest advocates for the night sky and for DarkSky. Dave also said the battle against bad lighting is binary–it is zero with continued resistance to change for a long time until suddenly it becomes a 1, and you have another convert and ally.
I personally consider Dave to be one of the greatest environmentalists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, but I’d like to highlight other facets of Dave’s character. His kindness was legendary, and since his passing, I’ve received daily emails from friends and acquaintances recounting how Dave’s thoughtful actions made profound differences in their lives. He was not only fun to be around but also extremely well-educated and a captivating speaker with a powerful ability to inspire others.
Dave lived life to the fullest, found joy in his pursuits, touched countless lives through daily acts of kindness, and revolutionized our perspective on the night sky. May he rest in peace.
Tim Hunter
Co-founder of DarkSky International
(Formerly known as The International Dark-Sky Association)