A 105-year-old eclipse enthusiast is excited to see the 13th lunar eclipse on April 8.
Retired engineer Laverne Biser is a fan of the eclipse. The 105-year-old has seen 12 of them, and the total lunar eclipse on April 8 will be his 13th.
WEST FORT WORTH, Texas More than a century ago, while standing on his parent’s farm, young LaVerne Biser was captivated by his first glimpse of the Milky Way.
The spectacular stars and constellations that twinkled above the fields of Troy, Ohio, had a profound effect on the now 105-year-old astronomer, who still remembers the experiences vividly.
“Growing up, we were familiar with Orions shield, the Big Dipper, all the G5 constellations,” Biser recalls living in his hometown 20 miles outside of Dayton known as the of the birth of airplanes and the starting point for the Wright brothers’ incredible journey into space. .
After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State in 1942 and a master’s from Southern Methodist University, Biser went on to work as a mechanical engineer for General Dynamics. For more than 40 years, his contributions to the performance analysis of the B-36 and F-16 programs have enriched the company, which still operates today under the name Lockheed Martin.
Throughout his life, he has been fascinated by the vast universe beyond our planet’s atmosphere. Determined to investigate the mysteries of the universe, Biser spent many hours designing and building three telescopes that would allow him to observe the stars, the Sun and the Moon.
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Laverne Biser sets up her equipment to observe the solar eclipse on Prince Edward Island, Canada, in 1972. (Courtesy: The Biser family)
12 is dark and counting
Biser now spends his days in his woodworking shop inside his home in West Fort Worth, Texas, preparing his camera rig for the next exciting show on his growing list. grow up.
“1963, 1972, 79, 84, 88, 91, 94, 98, ’99, 2012, 2017, 2023,” he repeats.
Biser will see his 13th consecutive solar eclipse with his daughter and grandson in Plano, Texas. He may be considered the world’s oldest man chasing the moon.
“You see one, you want to see them all, and you’ll do everything you can to see them,” Biser said. “They are very beautiful.”
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Laverne Biser prepares her equipment to see the total solar eclipse in New Mexico in 1972. (Courtesy: The Biser family)
However, it wasn’t all good times that he spent with his wife of almost 80 years as umbraphiles, both willing to travel far and wide to prove fully.
Love beyond the stars
In 1963, Biser and his wife saw the first major solar eclipse in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. The experience was unforgettable, and they went on to witness 10 more similar celestial events before his wife died with him in January 2023.
The couple had a deep bond that was strengthened by their love of the amazing things around them as they chased the shadows during their travels around the world.
He said of the terrifying eclipse, “We’ve been following them all over the world.”
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Laverne and Marion Biser prepare to view the 1988 lunar eclipse near Bali.(Courtesy: The Biser family)
Before his wife’s death, Biser said he loved to travel and endured long drives with her across the US and Canada for many years. However, what the couple really enjoyed the most were the cruises they took out into the dark.
They traveled the world, crossing the vast expanses of the Bali Sea and the Black Sea, exploring the stunning coastline of Brazil, and circling the tropical beauty of the US Virgin Islands and Hawaii.
Their most valuable possessions were their passports, which were not just travel documents but a pathway to ultimate happiness and satisfaction.
“If it was going to get dark, I’d set aside my vacation time to go there,” Biser said.
It’s beautiful
On their travels, the couple would see the Parthenon, explore Constantinople (now known as Istanbul) and visit South America, including Brazil, to name a few landmarks. Their last trip together to see a total solar eclipse was in Beatrice, Nebraska, in 2017.
“It was fun,” her voice trembled.
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Laverne Biser set up a three-camera rig to capture the total solar eclipse in Beatrice, Nebraska in 2017. (Courtesy: The Biser family)
Biser still remembers his trip to see the total solar eclipse on February 26, 1979, in Williston, North Dakota and still remembers it today.
While watching the lunar eclipse, he took an amazing photo that he is proud of. He captured the entire event in an amazing two-hour time frame. It was a moment he would never forget.
He recalled: “We all met after showing our pictures. “When I showed mine, everyone applauded. I was lucky. The eclipse was in the center of the image, and other partial moments hung across the field of view.”
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Laverne Biser fondly remembers a trip she and her wife took to Wilson, North Dakota to see the 1979 total lunar eclipse.(LaVerne Biser)
Just a healthy Christian life
As Biser approaches his 106th birthday on June 27, he worries that this may be his last chance to fully prove himself. Although he is not willing to think about the 2026 total solar eclipse in the Arctic or even the next US road in 2044, he is willing to focus on maintaining his health, so that he can continue to look at the stars every night.
He says his youthful energy is linked to not drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes or using drugs.
“It’s just good Christian living,” he praises.
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Laverne Biser was accompanying her family to her grandson’s wedding in December 2023. (Courtesy: The Biser family)
Until the day he is called to his heavenly home to meet his wife and witness forever, Biser reminds others to wear their safety glasses during the eclipse. However, remove the sunscreen to get the best view when the sun sets.
Yes, it really is wonderful, as you can see the first of those beautiful stars high above the fields of southwest Ohio more than 100 years ago.
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