Author
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Topic: collectSPACE member Leon Ford (1961-2014)
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-21-2014 09:47 AM
It is with sadness that I share the news that space memorabilia collector Leon Ford passed away on Wednesday evening (Aug. 20).Leon was the first member of collectSPACE. He was the first person to join these forums when they came online in 1999 and played an active role in shaping what this site would become during its early years. I last saw Leon in May at Spacefest in Pasadena, where we spent a few minutes catching up and talking about the hobby. My sincere condolences to his wife Donna, his family and friends. He will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Our Daily Bread Food Bank, P.O. Box 1476, Hammond, LA. 70404 or to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, Mail Code: ASF-1, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899. |
onesmallstep Member Posts: 1310 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 08-21-2014 09:50 AM
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James Brown Member Posts: 1287 From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 08-21-2014 09:51 AM
Such a loss. Thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Godspeed Leon. |
gliderpilotuk Member Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 08-21-2014 09:53 AM
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4allmankind Member Posts: 1043 From: Dallas Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 08-21-2014 09:58 AM
The world has lost a special man. Not a bad bone in his body. Every time we hung up the phone he would say "Love ya, man". He was truly filled with love and will be sorely missed. |
rjurek349 Member Posts: 1190 From: Northwest Indiana Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 08-21-2014 10:02 AM
Truly, one of the sweetest and dearest humans to ever have walked this planet. I am shattered by this. I have loved him like a brother, and will miss him, always. It was an honor to know him and call him my friend. Rest in peace, my dear, dear friend.... |
Steve Zarelli Member Posts: 731 From: Upstate New York, USA Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 08-21-2014 10:05 AM
Terrible and tragic news. A great loss to the hobby.My condolences to his family and friends. |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 08-21-2014 10:10 AM
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Dave Clow Member Posts: 236 From: South Pasadena, CA 91030 Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 08-21-2014 10:12 AM
Leon was a mentor and an example for collectors. Condolences to his family. |
NovaRob Member Posts: 242 From: Tucson, Arizona, USA Registered: Nov 2008
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posted 08-21-2014 10:19 AM
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SpaceAholic Member Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-21-2014 10:24 AM
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Ben Member Posts: 1896 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: May 2000
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posted 08-21-2014 10:28 AM
Sorry to hear. Leon was one of the first collectSPACE members that I met. He was a very nice guy. Rest in peach Leon. My sympathies to his family. |
Steven Kaplan Member Posts: 140 From: New Jersey Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 08-21-2014 10:28 AM
Very sad news. One of the nicest people you could hope to meet. My condolences to his family and friends. |
Spaceflyer Member Posts: 194 From: Nauheim, Germany Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 08-21-2014 10:33 AM
Very sad to hear that a great friend has left us. I always enjoyed our talks and his great knowledge about the space program in the last decade. One of the greatest personalities I have ever met!My sincere condolences to his his family and friends. RIP Leon. |
David Carey Member Posts: 782 From: Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-21-2014 11:00 AM
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Larry McGlynn Member Posts: 1255 From: Boston, MA Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 08-21-2014 11:06 AM
I first met Leon on the pages of this message board back in 1999. While it was a rather stormy relationship as so often occurred in those early years on the Internet, but over time, he taught me how kindness and openness is more important in helping elevate the hobby. I met Leon in person for the first time in Burbank in 2004. As I was introduced to Leon, I told him that he could take the first punch. Leon offered me his hand instead. He became a truly close friend as he did so easily with so many of us. He was the epitome of a true Southern gentleman. His passing is a tremendous personal loss to so many of those who have had the lucky chance to meet and be his friend. Leon, you will be missed.
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Greggy_D Member Posts: 977 From: Michigan Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 08-21-2014 11:12 AM
I am absolutely shocked right now. |
Jurg Bolli Member Posts: 977 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 08-21-2014 11:23 AM
Although we never met he was very nice to me over email and even invited me to visit him when he was still in CO.Very sad news. |
Scott Member Posts: 3307 From: Houston, TX Registered: May 2001
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posted 08-21-2014 11:41 AM
R.I.P. to a very good man. |
Henk Boshuijer Member Posts: 450 From: Netherlands Registered: May 2007
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posted 08-21-2014 11:49 AM
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Lunar rock nut Member Posts: 911 From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A. Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-21-2014 12:09 PM
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Charlie16 Member Posts: 494 From: Italy Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 08-21-2014 12:10 PM
Godspeed Leon. |
Chris Orwoll New Member Posts: 7 From: Alamogordo, NM Registered: Sep 2008
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posted 08-21-2014 12:11 PM
Leon was a great friend and a true gentleman. I will miss our daily conversations, his wit, and his sage advice. There's an old saying about the measure of a man: It is not how he died, but how he lived. It is not what he gained, but what did he give. Those are the units to measure the worth of a man...as a man, regardless of birth.Leon, you were priceless and you will be sorely missed. Godspeed brother! |
sts205cdr Member Posts: 649 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 08-21-2014 12:37 PM
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nasamad Member Posts: 2121 From: Essex, UK Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 08-21-2014 12:58 PM
I'm truly shocked. As with Larry, I first met Leon at Burbank in 2004, I had talked to him via email a few times and was a friendly face in a sea of strangers when I arrived. He and Wally Schirra had me rolling up with his "primed" questions to Wally about his Jaguar car! I haven't had the opportunity to speak with him much in recent years but was always pleased to see his smiling face online (usually on AHOF images ). Our community is poorer for his passing. My thoughts are with his family at this time. — Adam |
bruce Member Posts: 916 From: Fort Mill, SC, USA Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-21-2014 01:18 PM
I will miss you, my dear friend. |
Lunar Module 5 Member Posts: 370 From: Wales, UK Registered: Dec 2004
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posted 08-21-2014 01:48 PM
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mjanovec Member Posts: 3811 From: Midwest, USA Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 08-21-2014 01:59 PM
A sad loss for the collecting community. My sympathies to his family and friends. |
767FO Member Posts: 269 From: Boca Raton, FL Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 08-21-2014 02:19 PM
I was so sorry to hear of Leon's passing. Having met him a few times over the years, he was always gracious and enthusiastic about life. He had a passion for space collecting that was both rare and inspiring. He will be missed. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family. |
Kite Member Posts: 831 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 08-21-2014 02:23 PM
. RIP fellow cS member. |
mode1charlie Member Posts: 1169 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 08-21-2014 02:32 PM
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space1 Member Posts: 853 From: Danville, Ohio Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 08-21-2014 02:45 PM
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carl walker Member Posts: 360 From: Netherlands Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 08-21-2014 03:04 PM
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lordolsen Member Posts: 112 From: Denmark Registered: Jun 2010
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posted 08-21-2014 03:30 PM
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freshspot unregistered
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posted 08-21-2014 03:34 PM
I shared a drink with Leon at Spacefest in Pasadena and he was his usual smiling and happy self. What a huge loss.David Scott (not the astronaut)
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Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 08-21-2014 04:11 PM
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ColinBurgess Member Posts: 2031 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 08-21-2014 04:40 PM
One of the great pleasures of attending space shows in the States was seeing Leon there. Such a wonderfully generous, gentle and interesting man; he will be greatly missed by all those who knew him. My sincere condolences to his family and friends on this incredibly sad and unexpected news. Our shared passion for space is all the poorer for his loss.As an example of the type of person Leon was, the first time I met him was at Spacefest San Diego. While we were talking he asked if I was going to the dinner that night, but when I said I hadn't organised a ticket before I flew over he told me he had a spare and insisted I take it as it would otherwise go unused, and he would not hear of being paid for it. That night I got to sit at the table of Gene Kranz and enjoyed talking with the great man, which was a truly unforgettable experience. That story typifies for me the wonderful person that Leon was, and why I will always remember him and his kindness with great fondness. |
capoetc Member Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 08-21-2014 04:49 PM
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Madon_space Member Posts: 667 From: uk Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 08-21-2014 04:49 PM
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mach3valkyrie Member Posts: 719 From: Albany, Oregon Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 08-21-2014 05:10 PM
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