About

Bob Grossfeld became involved in astronomy in Central Oregon in 1990 after receiving his BA in Economics from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Starting as a volunteer at the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, he became the manager of the observatory in 1998. He has advanced the teaching of astronomy, and outreach programs in the greater Northwest, attending several regional star parties a year, for as long as he can remember. He is a distinguished member of NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador program since 1998 enjoying the benefits of the advanced programs offered by the organization. Since 2007 he has been the principal instructor in Astronomy at Central Oregon Community College. Bob has continued his higher education through special programs offered through NASA, MIT and Harvard.  Bob was instrumental in building and creating successful programs at the Oregon Observatory in Sunriver. In addition, Bob was the primary consultant for the construction of Worthy Brewing’s Hopservatory and Prineville Reservoir’s Observatory. He is currently owner of Central Oregon’s first Astro-tourism company, Oregon Astronomy & Rocketry. To support regional educational and public programs, he founded Cascade Astronomy & Rocketry Academy (CARA). CARA’s primary goal is to promote and conduct astronomy and rocketry educational programs in schools and the greater community. Long range plans include building a new observatory in Central Oregon, which will be Central Oregon’s only public access facility and science center for the community. Bob loves Central Oregon, and envisions CARA as a way to inspire, engage and educate the next generation of explorers through space science.

John Staiger has been a dedicated volunteer telescope operator at Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory for over 15 years. He and his wife Joanie are part-time residents of Sunriver and are fortunate to be part of the Sunriver community for twelve weeks a year. During these periods, he can be found demonstrating the wonders of the night-time universe to any and all visitors to the observatory. He is a retired Navy Captain and 32-year career employee of the Boeing Company where he was a successful industrial engineer and software project manager. In addition, he was the project manager for a $13.5 million school construction project at his church in Bellevue, Washington, which finished on time and on budget, with over $2 million in grants from foundations that John personally secured.