April 22, 1955 – October 16, 2011
From the Portland Press Herald:
Steve Innes, 56, died unexpectedly on Oct. 16, 2011. He was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., on April 22, 1955, the son of Rachel and Richard Innes. He graduated from high school in Ann Arbor, and graduated from Eastern Michigan University. He married Nancy Murphy in 1980, and lived in Denver, Colo., where Ben and Hilary were born. They moved to Gorham in 1995.
Steve worked as a technician in both the Southworth Planetarium and the College of Science, Technology and Health [University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME]. This past spring, Steve was awarded the Nelson and Small Prize by the Department of Engineering faculty for his dedicated service.
Steve loved being outdoors and volunteered many hours working on Maine AT club corridor
maintenance. Steve and his wife have been active members of the Down East Ski Club and they have enjoyed spending their winter weekends skiing with their friends at Shawnee Peak. Steve and Nancy also enjoyed participating in the Annual Trek Across Maine for the past eight years.
Steve had a passion for ‘tinkering’ with small engines, lawnmowers, his miniature trains, his observatory, and telescopes. He volunteered with Gorham High School robotics team while his son was a member.
Steve is survived by his wife Nancy of Gorham; daughter Hilary of Colorado, son Ben of Gorham; his parents, Rachel and Richard Innes of Gorham; sister Ro and husband Mehmet Altin of St. Peters, Mo., sister Lydia and husband Bill Luitje of Ann Arbor, Mich., and brother David Innes of Minneapolis, Minn.
We knew Steve as the “man behind the camera”, taking numerous shots at each conference
which has helped us preserve many memories. He was the quiet behind-thescenes hard worker who was the main reason that MAPS 2009 actually happened. He knew his astronomy, he knew his planetarium, he was truly one of us. Steve, we don’t know why you had to leave us so soon to join the stars, but we thank you for the steady light that you shone on us. – Patty Seaton