Farewell to the Stellar Scientist: Hubert Reeves Passes Away at 91 Years Old

Farewell to Hubert Reeves: A Tribute to a Stellar Scientist

A Brilliant Mind’s Exit from Earthly Boundaries

Montreal, Canada – Hubert Reeves, the renowned Quebec astrophysicist, scientific popularizer, ecologist, writer, and humanist, passed away on Friday at the age of 91. His son, Benoît Reeves, made the announcement on Facebook, leaving the scientific community and the general public mourning for the loss of a true intellect and an advocate for the environment.

From Gazing at the Stars to Exploring the Cosmos

Born on July 13, 1932, in Léry, a small community west of Châteauguay in Quebec, Hubert Reeves’s passion for science was ignited at a young age. In his memoir, “Je n’aurai pas le temps” (I Won’t Have Time), published in 2012, Reeves recounts his early scientific interests, which were sparked by his father’s gift of the twelve volumes of “L’Encyclopédie de la jeunesse.” In addition to immersing himself in books, young Hubert loved to stargaze with his family by the shores of Lake Saint-Louis, near their home.

One of the pivotal encounters in his life was with Father Louis-Marie, a former suitor of his mother who had become a clergyman. Father Louis-Marie showed him moving microorganisms under a microscope, a discovery that fascinated Reeves. When asked to name invisible beings in a catechism class, he listed angels, demons, microbes, and chromosomes, reflecting his scientific curiosity.

At the age of 17, Reeves wrote to Harvard University, requesting a visit to their telescope. He was welcomed for a month-long stay, for a mere dollar a day. His parents recognized the importance of education and sent their children to study at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, located near the University of Montreal. Reeves went on to pursue his Bachelor’s degree in Physics in 1953, continuing his studies at McGill University, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Atomic Physics in 1955. He then completed his Ph.D. in Nuclear Astrophysics at Cornell University in 1960.

An International Journey in Pursuit of Knowledge

Upon completing his studies, Reeves began his teaching career at the University of Montreal in 1960. However, he felt uneasy with the nationalist sentiment tied to the Quiet Revolution. The idea of using exclusively French-language books at the university troubled him, and his colleagues rejected a joint project with McGill University to build a particle accelerator due to fears that English would dominate the research. These events led Reeves to seek opportunities beyond Quebec, and he was eventually offered a position as a visiting professor at the Free University of Brussels in 1964.

This move to Brussels marked a significant turning point in Reeves’s professional life. A year later, he accepted a research director position at the National Center for Scientific Research in Paris and became a scientific advisor at the Atomic Energy Commission of Saclay, France. Reeves held these positions until the end of his career, all while maintaining his association with the University of Montreal as an adjunct professor. Each year, he returned to teach cosmology at the Department of Physics and gave popular science lectures at the Department of Continuing Education.

The Legacy of a Stellar Science Communicator

While Reeves made significant contributions to astrophysics and nuclear synthesis early in his career, it was his exceptional talent for popularizing science and his dedication to environmental conservation that brought him widespread recognition. Throughout his life, he honed his skills as a science communicator by writing books on topics close to his heart, which included “Patience dans l’azur” (Patience in the Sky), “Poussières d’étoiles” (Stardust), and “Dernières nouvelles du cosmos” (The Latest News from the Cosmos). In collaboration with philosopher and sociologist Frédéric Lenoir, he also authored “Mal de Terre” (Earthache), which focused on the effects of climate change.

Reeves’s environmental activism took various forms, including his tenure as president of the “Rassemblement des opposants à la chasse” (Opposition to Hunting Coalition), which later became known as “Humanité et biodiversité.” He held this position from 2000 to 2015, championing the cause of biodiversity conservation. Reeves also spoke out against nuclear power, advocating for investments in wind and solar energy during his visit to Montreal in 2005.

Throughout his career, Reeves received numerous prestigious accolades, titles, and honors. He was made a Commander of the Legion of Honour in France in 2003, a Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec, a Companion of the Order of Canada, and a member of the Royal Society of Canada. He also received the Grand Prix de la Francophonie from the French Academy in 1989, the Albert Einstein Prize from the World Cultural Council in 2001, and the Samuel de Champlain Prize from the France-Canada Institute in 2002.

The Never-Ending Curiosity

Until the end of his life, Hubert Reeves nurtured an insatiable curiosity. His thirst for knowledge was exemplified by his late-night readings of scientific journals, as he once mentioned in an interview. “It’s like an urgency to live,” he confided. “The urgency to understand this world in which we find ourselves. I would like to comprehend the meaning of this life.”

Hubert Reeves is survived by his four children, Gilles, Nicolas, Benoît, and Evelyne, from his first marriage to Francine Brunel. In 1990, he remarried journalist Camille Scoffier. As a passionate music lover, Reeves lent his distinctive voice as a narrator or commentator on various musical works, including Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” Ravel’s “Ma mère l’Oye,” and even “Winnie the Pooh.”

As we bid farewell to this extraordinary mind, we reflect upon his invaluable contributions to science, his tireless efforts to educate and inspire, and his unwavering commitment to protect and preserve our planet. Hubert Reeves leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations of scientists, researchers, and environmentalists.