Alan Townsend

In “This Ordinary Stardust,” scientist and author, Dr. Townsend, writes a moving memoir about the two devastating events that occurred a decade ago in his life. The first was when his then 4-year-old daughter, Neva, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor, and the second happened a few months later, when his wife, Diana, developed a different, unrelated form of brain cancer. While his daughter did survive, his wife succumbed to the illness. Although writing the book was difficult at times, Dr. Townsend completed it at Diana’s request. “My purpose in writing it was… that just our story might help others who are going through hard times… there was [also] a broader purpose… that just some understanding of the world around us and the natural world can bring a source of wonder…”