A visionary’s passing
Francisco Sánchez Martínez, the founder and director of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), has passed away at his home in Madrid at the age of 89, following a long battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Widely regarded as the driving force and pioneer of astrophysics in Spain, Sánchez was not only responsible for creating one of the country’s leading research institutes but also for putting the Canary Islands on the scientific world map.
A honeymoon with a mission
Born in 1936 in Toledo, Francisco—or ‘Paco’ to the fortunate few who knew him well—first arrived in the Canary Islands in 1961. Sánchez landed in Tenerife to celebrate his honeymoon with his wife, María Almeida, but this was not the sole purpose of his trip. The optics physics expert had been entrusted with an important and enigmatic mission by the then rector of the University of La Laguna, Alberto Navarro, and one of Spain’s most important astronomy professors, José María Torroja.
Prospecting the skies
For two years, Sánchez was tasked with conducting an “astronomical prospection” of Tenerife’s peaks to determine if the conditions were suitable for installing an astronomical observatory. During those years, Sánchez not only learned to live at 2,400 meters altitude in what he described as “very harsh” conditions, but he also had a vision while gazing at that sky—a vision that would materialize 24 years later with the construction of the first telescopes on the summits of Tenerife and La Palma and the consolidation of his “prodigal son”: the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC).
Life under the stars
For several years, the peaks of Tenerife became Sánchez’s home, where he also raised a family at the foot of Mount Teide. In one of his last interviews with EL DÍA after receiving recognition from his colleagues in La Palma, Sánchez recalled how “tough” it was to live in the high mountains. “I worked at night to measure the transparency of the stars, and since some of my children had already been born there in Izaña, I put a small bed under the telescope to rest a bit and get home in time for lunch. Then in the afternoon, I would get back to work.” It was during this time that he became convinced of the exceptional quality of the Canary Islands’ skies—a conviction he would carry to every corner of the world to turn his dream into reality.
A world-class discovery
“When I started taking measurements, I confirmed that the sky in the Canary Islands was comparable to the best sites in the world,” he stated. So convinced was he that he turned down a job offer to emigrate to the United States, simply stating, “I decided to stay.”
The first telescope and a revolutionary deal
Firmly convinced that the Canarian skies were exceptional for astronomical observation, Sánchez succeeded in 1964 in getting the University of Bordeaux to install the first professional telescope at the Teide Observatory. This international agreement set the foundation for all subsequent conventions that allowed for the installation of international telescopes in exchange for 20% of the observation time for Spanish science. “I achieved something nobody had managed until then: that 20%, at the cost level, would be for Spain, plus a 5% cooperation share. That’s 25%! The norm back then was 5% or 10%,” he recalled in the interview.
Building Spanish astrophysics from the ground up
With Francisco Sánchez, the country’s first astrophysics research group—the Upper Atmosphere and Interplanetary Medium group—was born, and the first doctoral theses were completed. In 1965, he joined the University of La Laguna (ULL) as an adjunct professor of Physics at the Teide Observatory, and in 1969 he presented his doctoral thesis, which was the first on Astrophysics ever defended in Spain. This marked the beginning of a long career. In 1970, the first professorship of Astrophysics at a Spanish university was created at ULL, a position filled by Francisco Sánchez, who also became the country’s first Chair Professor of the subject in 1974.
The birth of an institute
Thanks to Sánchez, the name of the Canary Islands began to be heard throughout Spain. The first researchers who came to Tenerife were motivated by a buzz that had already permeated most of the Physics faculties on the mainland: the Canary Islands were the ideal place to study this incipient field of astrophysics. In 1973, Sánchez’s drive led to the creation of the University Institute of Astrophysics at ULL, the precursor to the current IAC, which would be established in 1975.
Researchers who lived through those early years, like Pere Pallé, remember working in makeshift barracks. “He had the vision to fight against the hierarchy of the time and break free from constraints,” Pallé recalled about Sánchez in an interview for the IAC’s 40th anniversary.
Grand achievements and protecting the night sky
One of his great conquests was the construction of the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) and its installation at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma. The telescope was inaugurated in 2009 and remains the largest optical-infrared telescope in the world. In 2007, Francisco Sánchez participated in the International Starlight Conference in La Palma, which resulted in the “Declaration in Defence of the Night Sky and the Right to Starlight.” In 2011, he promoted the creation of the Starlight Foundation to disseminate the principles of the La Palma Declaration.
A legacy of inspiration
The news of his passing quickly spread among the Canarian authorities, who held a special affection for him. The current director of the IAC, Valentín Martínez Pillet, highlighted that “the legacy of Professor Sánchez is incalculable.” For Martínez, Sánchez was defined by his “vision, courage, and undisputed leadership.” As he insists, “He not only founded the IAC but laid the foundations for an entire discipline in our country. Thanks to his effort, Spain is today a recognized power in astrophysical research.” For Martínez, as for many, Sánchez was much more than a visionary. “He was a pioneer and a teacher; he will be an eternal inspiration for future generations,” he concluded.
Rafael Rebolo, who succeeded Sánchez as director of the IAC, stated that “very few can go so far and help so many others to do the same.” Rebolo remembers him as “a constant fighter for the causes he believed in” and considers that “by following in his footsteps, others learned not to give in to difficulties.” “A lesson that helped me face many things, both in professional life and in personal life in general. I will always be grateful to him for everything he achieved for the advancement of science.”
Official tributes to a scientific giant
The news of his death has also resonated deeply with Canary Islands public institutions. The President of the Canaries, Fernando Clavijo, deeply lamented the news, highlighting that his legacy “transcends science to become part of the history of the Canary Islands.” President Clavijo emphasized that “Francisco Sánchez forever changed the relationship of the Canary Islands with science and knowledge” and added that “his example will continue to guide those who believe in a Canary Islands that looks to the sky with ambition and pride.” Clavijo expressed his recognition and affection to his family, colleagues, and the entire scientific community “that today bids farewell to a pioneer and a Canarian at heart who dreamed of the stars and managed to have an entire people join him in that dream.”
The President of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, bid farewell “with deep sorrow” to Sánchez, whom she described as “an essential figure in the international projection of our skies.” “His vision turned the Canary Islands into a world reference for the observation of the universe, and his scientific and human legacy will endure as a light that will continue to guide new generations,” she concluded. The Ministry of Science also bid farewell to the researcher on its X account “with great sadness,” stating, “Thanks to his vision, astrophysics in Spain took a decisive leap toward international excellence.”
A lifetime of dedication to the stars
In his final years, after a decade away from management and despite the fatigue caused by his illness, Sánchez could still vividly recall all the anecdotes from those early years, as well as the science he helped propel. Indeed, even after retiring, he continued working on his research articles until the very end. In a final conversation, Sánchez expressed a wish for astrophysics, though for him it was more of a certainty: “It is going to flourish more and for many more generations. It’s going to have a long tail.”
