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Author
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Topic: Brian Duffy beams into South Florida.
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Ed beck
Member Posts: 227
From: Florida
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-15-2002 10:00 PM
   
Yesterday my wife and I had the pleasure of meeting Col. Brian Duffy the commander of STS 92. He was at a local hospital that was having a public showing of its new ER and pediatrics units. Col. Duffy was at a table outside the enterence to the new units signing his NASA portraits. They were provided free of charge, and the hospital had a staff member standing by with a polaroid to take a picture with Col. Duffy. He was a very charming man, very friendly, and happy to take a few moments with each person to answer questions. Most people passing by would stop quickly and ask "Who is that?" I would so inform them. Some stared blankly at me and went on. Oh well, thier loss. The hospital also did something that I think was wonderful, they had a big screen TV set up with a VCR showing mission high lights of STS 92 right next to the table where he was signing. I would love to see more of that!
Col. Duffy graciously signed my flown bookmark with the payload bay liner from STS 92 as, Brian Duffy CDR STS 92.
What a nice touch, and he offered to do it.
He also explained that he was no longer with NASA because he had flown 4 flights, and that he had done pretty much what he had wanted to do. Besides his wife asked him, "Honey, isn't there someone else who can do that?" So he agreed that there was, and now he works for Lockeed. I commended him on his decision to keep his "ground crew" happy, and together. Something that many other astronauts had failed to do. He smiled at my reference to his family as his ground crew, and agreed that it was the right choice.
Now there is a man who had his cake, and got to eat it too!
My thanks to Col. Duffy for the autograph, and a great time! Ed ------------------
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalms 19:1 NIV [This message has been edited by Ed beck (edited December 15, 2002).] [This message has been edited by Ed beck (edited December 16, 2002).] |
albatron@aol.com
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posted 12-16-2002 12:08 AM
Heya Ed,Glad you had a good time with Duffy - hes one of the best. Man I sure wish I had known about that - as I would have headed down. WHich hospital was it? Al |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 655
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-16-2002 09:16 AM
I have to agree. I had the pleasure of joining Col. Duffy for breakfast at the reopening of the Fels's Planeterium at the Franklin Instutute in Philadelphia. I actually won this in a contest (Talk about the power of positive thinking!) We talked for almost two hours that day. It was funnu you mentioned him mentioning his wife since my wife asked him why he left. He went into great detail what it was like for his family to deal with his flights (His wife couldn't watch the launchs while his kids loved them). My wife them proceeding in telling him what it was like being married to a collector. At one point we were treated to a tour of the new permanent SPACE display. There are many items from a private collector who worked at NASA during Apollo. One case has fifteen to twenty items. Brian looked back at me and said "I'll bet you wish you had something like this!" My wife quickly answered "Oh, he does!" and we immediately started playing "Got it , Got it, Need it, Got it... " |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-16-2002 04:04 PM
I, too was there at Duffy's visit at the Franklin Institute - and I got an e-mail stating that my article on his appearance there will make a future issue of BIS' Spaceflight (the proofs were dated February 2003, but things usually slip in the magazine industry.) |
Ed beck
Member Posts: 227
From: Florida
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-16-2002 09:42 PM
Hi Al, Sorry I didn't think to let you know.
It was at Palms West Hospital out west on Southern Blvd. My Brother in law tipped me off. He heard about on a local radio station WIRK who
was promoting a shuttle astronaut. I am primarily interested in meeting Mercury - Apollo era astro's so I almost passed. But when I saw who it was, and realised that Col. Duffy was one of the few shuttle asto's that I was familiar with, I just had time to grab my hat and run for the door. I basicly had a one day notice myself.
If I hear anything about anyone else, I will send you a smoke signal.Ed ------------------
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalms 19:1 NIV |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-16-2002 09:49 PM
Just a reminder: if you do hear of future astronaut appearances, drop a note to sightings@collectspace.com and we will add it to the calendar. This was everyone can share in the fun... |
albatron@aol.com
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posted 12-17-2002 12:30 PM
Thanks Ed! Yeah its always fun to meet up with other collectors! Cheers! Al |
Ed beck
Member Posts: 227
From: Florida
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-17-2002 08:17 PM
Oh! Thanks Robert! I didn't know I could do that. I will keep that in mind, but for this one it would have been likley too late for anyone to make plans as I found out at the 11th hour. But, even a short notice is still something. I will let you all know as soon as I hear about anything new.Ed ------------------
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalms 19:1 NIV |
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