François Spite (1930 - 2022) began his thesis at the University of Lille under the direction of V. Kourganoff, and finished it in Paris, where he worked from 1963 under the direction of Roger Cayrel.
After his thesis, François Spite, accompanied by his wife Monique Spite, spent three years (1972-1975) at the European Southern Observatory. He then joined the Meudon site of the Paris Observatory where he spent most of his career.
The scientific results of François Spite, in collaboration with his wife Monique, are pillars for modern astrophysics.
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His encyclopaedic vocation led François to work on the nomenclature of stars, including the publication of the first Dictionary of Nomenclature.
François was also a great populariser of Astronomy, through his papers aimed at the general public, his conferences and acting as a guide for visits of the Observatoire de Paris.
François continued his scientific activity until the end and always gave his advice and help younger researchers of several generations.
His collaborators shall never forget his kindness, his goodwill, his scientific curiosity, the depth of his analysis and of his understanding of physics and astrophysics, as well as his delicate sense of humor.