On September 21st last Professor Dr. E. D. van Oort died at Leiden rather suddenly. For a considerable time his health had, indeed, been indifferent; on frequent occasions he had been unwell for shorter or longer periods, and in the spring of this year he was even obliged to apply for a four months' leave of absence. When after the expiry of this period, apparently recovered, he resumed his work, be it only for a few hours daily, we fostered the hope to have him among us for many years to come. Fate, however, decided differently. On Thursday morning he came to the museum, feeling better than on the previous days; he received the visitors cheerfully, and left the building past noon. Three hours later death had overtaken him. Eduard Daniel van Oort was born... |