Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Biopic of Dr Dave Menke


Dr. Dave Menke was born the son of John MacAleney (1911-1979) & Dorothy Menke (1921-1981), and raised in the state of Missouri, in and around the city of St. Louis. He has one older half brother, Steve, and three younger half sisters, Erin, Kathleen, and Carol. All of these relatives continue to live near St. Louis, Missouri.

After high school, Dave enrolled at the University of California at Los Angeles, and over the next eleven years, earned bachelor’s degrees in physics, astronomy, math, and chemistry; master’s degrees in physics, geophysics, astrophysics, and the art of teaching physics; a teaching credential, and a PhD in Science Education.

During college, Dave dated a one JoAnn Bornstein (1951-) for four years, and then they were married in 1973. Over the course of their marriage, David & JoAnn had five children: Joshua (1976-), Jacob (1977-), Hannah (1980-), Rachel (1982-), and Jeremiah (1985-).

David and JoAnn separated in 1994. Two years later, Dr Dave married Gail Ann Foreman (1965-). David and Gail have one child, Luke-Adam, born in 1997.

Raised a Presbyterian, Dave became a Mormon in 1970, and is still active in that Church.

During his career, Dr. Menke has served as a public school teacher, community college instructor, and university professor. He has worked full time at such institutions as California State University, Northridge; Southern Utah University; Central Connecticut University; Broward Community College, and the College of Southern Nevada. Much of his career was also spent as an academic administrator of public observatories and planetariums.

After Dr Menke’s “retirement” in 2000, he has written books and worked in various high schools and colleges. Currently, Dr Menke is a Professor of Science & Mathematics at Brown Mackie College and is a Professor of Physics & Astronomy at Pima Community College. Both of these colleges are in Tucson, Arizona.

Dr Menke serves as the First Vice-President and COO of the International Planetarium Directors Congress. As a world traveler, Dr. Menke has served as leader of many expeditions, including observations of eclipses and comets – on land and at sea. Dr Menke speaks, reads, and / or writes 20 languages.

Four of Dr Menke’s children have kids of their own, resulting in 7 grandchildren.

Dr Menke’s wife is an elementary school teacher and mental health counselor.

2 comments:

  1. Dr. Menke, you were one of the most enjoyable and memorable instructors I've ever had! I still remember the fun we had in the astronomy classes and in the eclipse trip up to Winnipeg, Canada for the solar eclipse back in Feb of '79. To this day, even though I'm not an astronomer, I still enjoy reading about anything about what's happening in the sky. You made a lasting impression! - Lee Garig-Meyer

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have known and been fast friends with Dr. David Menke for more than 25 years. Although we have lost touch these past 16 or 17 years, I consider knowing Dr. David to be a great honor. His integrity is among the most pristine of anyone I have ever met, and he is omong the 2 or 3 brightest, smartest, and most cultured humans I've ever known.
    I miss sitting on his patio at night, smoking cigars and watching him adore his wife whom he always referred to as ",Lovely."
    I can honestly say that I love
    this man.

    ReplyDelete