Know Your Madisonian: John Mathis leaves the stars for earthly volunteerism

Noted: Mathis brought his growing family to Madison in 1959, lured here because Michigan State University did not have an astronomy department and UW-Madison did and it was a very good one, he said. A theoritician, Mathis’ move turned out fruitful, for both sides. Five children and a 36-year career at the university — not counting the extra decade up to 2006 as a research-busy emeritus — later, Mathis heard of a volunteer teaching spot that “sounded like fun.”