In Memoriam
Nick Pope
Nick Pope, the iconic, highly respected, and much beloved UAP Investigator/Researcher, television personality, and author/lecturer, has passed away from cancer at the age of 60. He died on April 6, 2026, at his home in Tucson, AZ, beside his cherished wife, Professor Elizabeth Weiss.
Said Shawn West, Nick Pope’s longtime Agent: “It is with deep sadness that we confirm the passing of Nick Pope. Nick was a respected voice, a consummate professional, and a genuinely kind and gracious man. He will be deeply missed by colleagues, audiences, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Nick served at the UK’s Ministry of Defence, where he became widely known for his work investigating the UFO phenomenon. Following his government service, he became one of the world’s most recognized commentators and book authors on the subject, bringing a measured, evidence-based perspective to a field often marked by speculation.
Over the course of his career, Nick appeared in numerous television programs and documentaries, including appearances on Ancient Aliens, The UnXplained with William Shatner, The Proof Is Out There, and The UnBelievable with Dan Aykroyd, as well as countless others. He was also a frequent contributor to major news networks and international media, where his thoughtful analysis helped elevate public discourse around UAP-related topics.
Even in the final week of his life, Nick remained dedicated to his work. He completed three on-camera interviews at his home with television crews from the United Kingdom and Germany, making their pilgrimage from across the pond, to capture the final thoughts & comments from Nick. These programs are expected to air later this year on Sky History (A+E Networks UK) and other international networks.
Nick passed away at home, as he wished, after one year of illness. His wife, Elizabeth, was with him, holding his hand. In accordance with his wishes, there will be no funeral, and his body has been donated for medical research and training.
For more on Nick’s bio, please see: https://nickpope.net/
Erich von Däniken
Erich von Däniken, the Swiss author whose bestselling books about the extraterrestrial origins of ancient civilizations brought him fame among paranormal enthusiasts and scorn from the scientific community, has died. He was 90. Von Däniken’s representatives announced on his website that he had died on January 10, 2026, in a hospital in central Switzerland.
Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, Creator, Producer and Host of History Channel’s hit TV series “Ancient Aliens,” said: “It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Erich von Däniken on January 10, 2026. Our thoughts are with his family. EvD is also mourned by his friends around the world, the millions of readers of his books, and the many colleagues who have had the privilege of working with him for decades. His ‘Archaeology, Astronautics, and SETI Research Association’ (A.A.S.R.A.) and all those interested in the Ancient Astronaut Theory and Paleo-SETI research have received this news with dismay and sorrow. What a tremendous loss.”
Earl Grey Anderson
Earl Grey Anderson, a beloved, longtime leader of Southern California’s UFO Community, MUFON’s State Director of Southern California, a MUFON STAR Team member, and an executive committee member of MUFON’s ERT: The Experiencer Resource Team, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2025.
In his work with MUFON, Earl closed a plethora of High Strangeness cases, one of which was presented as one of MUFON’s “Cases of the Year” at the 2021 MUFON Symposium. Earl also hosted the Experiencer Workshops for MUFON’s 2022 Denver Symposium and for the 2023 MUFON Symposium, in Cincinnati Ohio. He appeared on dozens of TV shows and documentary films, including the popular TV series Ancient Aliens, discussing the UFO Phenomenon. He was also a Guest Speaker at several Contact in the Desert UFO events.
Earl, himself an ET Experiencer, long felt that the Experiencer Phenomenon was the beating heart of Ufology. “If we wish to understand this phenomenon,” he often said, “we need to listen to those who have had face-to-face encounters.”
Multi-talented, Earl was also a noted Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist and a Licensed Nurse. He studied at Moorpark College and taught a class on UFOlogy at the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. Additionally, Earl was also a Founding Member of the Board of Directors of The Hollywood Disclosure Alliance.
Dr. C.M. Chantal Toporow
Since retiring from a full career in aerospace, Dr. C.M. Chantal Toporow has been a consultant since 2014 for the HOUSE OF FILM, a worldwide boutique film distribution company operating now for fifteen years. She and the company attend the major film and TV markets.
Dr. Toporow is also certified as an International MUFON Field Investigator and soon-to-be certified MUFON ERT (Experiencer Resource Team). She is committed to helping to contribute to this most interesting of enigmas science is trying to decipher.
She has extensive experience in scientific research, development, application & management of technology. While working at Hughes Aircraft EDSG, and recently having earned a degree from UCLA Engineering, Dr. Toporow immediately began teaching at UCLA. She has been teaching graduate engineering at UCLA, then adding CSULB, & CSUN, and moving on to environmental courses at LMU, SMC & Otis Parsons School of Art and Design. She retired from Northrop Grumman Space (TRW), where she developed advanced technologies for leading edge satellites going to all corners of our planetary system.
Dr. Toporow now teaches esoteric sciences at the Rhine Institute for Parapsychology and is Education Chair and on the Executive Committee for the Society for Scientific Exploration. Her website can be found HERE.
Sergio Lub
Sergio Lub was an architect, inventor, political activist, UAP researcher, social networker, and jewelry designer, who passed away in 2024.
He was passionate about interconnecting visionary people and, in 1995, more than a decade before Web 2.0, Sergio designed the community building freeware called Favors.org — which is now used collaboratively by dozens of organizations, interconnecting people within a network of trust extending to more than 150 countries.
Favors has hosted and promoted hundreds of in-person and virtual meetings that have included scores of UAP / ET researchers, documentarists and activists.