Keith William Ogilvie passed peacefully from this life on January 24, 2022, at his home in Bethesda, MD with his wife and daughter by his side, just short of his 96^th birthday.  Keith lived a full and vital life with enduring impact in his personal and professional spheres.

He was the beloved husband of 45 years to Judith, father to Matthew (who pre-deceased him), Alexandra and Sarah, grandfather to Joanna and Caitlin, and in December 2021 great-grandfather to Jean. He was a loving uncle to Alex and Lizzy and brother-in-law to Christina and Harold. He also cherished his ties with cousins and other extended family that came to him through marriage.

Born in Solihull in Warwickshire, England to William and Dorothy (nee Warren) Ogilvie, Keith grew up in the English countryside – a happy boyhood. He was encouraged by his parents and in his formative years was also shaped in his sense of purpose by the events of World War II and the British War Effort in which his father was engaged as an engineer and company director. Keith excelled at Warwick School, where he discovered physics, which would be his life-long passion, and where his broad range of interests was sparked.  Proud of his Scottish heritage, he chose to study at Edinburgh University for both his undergraduate (summa cum laude, double first in physics and math) and doctoral degrees. 

For 50 years, Keith worked for NASA as a senior scientist and astrophysicist.  Ever adventurous, he first left the United Kingdom to hold positions in Canada at the Canadian Research Council and then on the faculty at the University of Sydney, Australia. He was from there recruited to NASA in the exciting early days of the space program. At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, he was to play an important continuing scientific role until he retired at the age of 87 in 2012.  The new knowledge about the solar system which he created and to which he contributed, working with his US and international scientist colleagues, and shared through more than 150 refereed scientific journal publications and numerous professional conferences was a source of great pride.

Keith participated in numerous space exploration missions at NASA, as Principal Investigator for experiments with instruments he designed; as Project Scientist; and as Laboratory Chief.  His missions included Voyager I and II, International Sun Earth Explorer (ISEE) I and II, WIND (part of the Heliophysics Systems Obervatory initiative) and DSCOVER (Deep Space Climate Observatory), a solar weather and earth climate observatory for which he was a key player in the conceptualization of its space science mission in 1999 and for which he advocated for many years.  He was justly gratified when it was ultimately launched in 2014, followed by storied achievements including a first view of the “dark side of the moon.”

During his career, Keith received many awards.  Chief among them were three medals:  NASA Medal for Exceptional Service (1979), NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement (1984), and “For lifelong service to the expansion of human knowledge of interplanetary space and the solar wind,” NASA’s highest civilian award, the NASA Medal for Distinguished Service (2009). Ever modest, Keith tended to downplay the recognition he received.  You would never have known about it from him!  However, he was immensely grateful for the opportunities he had to work with outstanding scientists around the world and to contribute to society at large through his work at NASA.

The essence of Keith was a kind, creative, keenly intelligent, perceptive, and witty human being.  He had realms of varied knowledge and read widely beyond science – music, history, cars, planes (almost anything that had intricate and elegant engineering!) photography, and architecture were all among his great loves. He was an accomplished horseman and rode his horses until he was in his 80’s.  And those who knew him well also understood his deep affection and respect for cats.  Keith was truly a “Man for All Seasons,” and he was the sun in the personal solar system of his immediate family. His warmth and vitality will uplift them always.

A virtual Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends on Keith’s birthday, February 20, 2022.  As was his wish, Judith will later take his ashes to England where he will be laid to rest.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Covenant House (https://www.covenanthouse.org/donation-options), Alley Cat Allies (https://getinvolved.alleycat.org/site/Donation) , or The American University of Paris (donate through this link to www.aup.edu)