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Author
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Topic: Guenter Wendt, Pad Leader (1923-2010)
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-03-2010 05:33 AM
   
Norma Wendt, Guenter Wendt's eldest daughter, sent the following this morning: This morning, at 12:18 a.m., the Pad Leader launched his final mission: Dad passed away peacefully, with my sister Dickie, Wendy and myself at his side. Dad had a good run, and was extremely fortunate to be in the right place at right time to make and be part of history. Although we will miss him, he leaves behind a grand legacy, due in no small part to many, many wonderful friends. Some of those friends are no doubt reminiscing with, and listening to, Dad talk about what incredible experiences they all shared. We could all be so lucky... Godspeed, Dad! collectSPACE Space History News: Guenter Wendt, 86, 'Pad Leader' for NASA moon missions, diesGuenter Wendt, the original pad leader for NASA's manned space program who was the last man the Apollo astronauts saw before launching to the moon, died at his home in Merritt Island, Fla., early Monday morning after being hospitalized for congestive heart failure and then suffering a stroke. He was 86. Reporting to Cape Canaveral as a McDonnell Aircraft Corp engineer working on missile projects soon after gaining his American citizenship in 1955, Wendt, who was born and educated in Berlin, became part of the effort to launch the first U.S. astronauts into space. As pad leader -- or "pad führer" as the astronauts came to affectionally call him due to his strong German accent and unwavering rules -- Wendt oversaw the spacecraft on the launch pads and all who had access to them to ensure the safety of all those involved...  A moment of silence can be signified by a reply with no words and only a period. |
history in miniature
Member Posts: 600
From: Slatington, PA
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 05-03-2010 05:36 AM
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drjeffbang
Member Posts: 110
From: Virginia
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 05-03-2010 05:38 AM
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James Brown
Member Posts: 1287
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 05-03-2010 05:40 AM
I am so sad to hear this news. My wife and I thought the world of Guenter. |
ApolloAlex
Member Posts: 390
From: Yeovil, England
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 05-03-2010 05:43 AM
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spaceman
Member Posts: 1104
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 05-03-2010 05:43 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 05-03-2010 05:45 AM
I am truly saddened to hear this. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 05-03-2010 05:50 AM
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Lasv3
Member Posts: 410
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted 05-03-2010 05:50 AM
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4allmankind
Member Posts: 1043
From: Dallas
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 05-03-2010 05:52 AM
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paulushumungus
Member Posts: 466
From: Burton, Derbyshire, England
Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 05-03-2010 05:54 AM
What a shock! I was only sitting right next to him two weeks ago on the bus tour for the ASF Apollo 13 40th dinner. A huge, huge loss. |
NavySpaceFan
Member Posts: 655
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007
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posted 05-03-2010 06:01 AM
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ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 05-03-2010 06:08 AM
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ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 05-03-2010 06:11 AM
I only got to meet him once - I had breakfast with him at the ASF show in November. What a huge blow to lose this key man in NASA's history.I hope there's good fishing for you in Heaven, Guenter! |
uk spacefan
Member Posts: 168
From: London
Registered: Jan 2007
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posted 05-03-2010 06:13 AM
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dom
Member Posts: 855
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 05-03-2010 06:23 AM
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kking
Member Posts: 106
From: Topmost, KY
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 05-03-2010 06:28 AM
A classy guy will be missed. I can just see him and the icey commander fighting over the Col. Clink helment |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 05-03-2010 06:37 AM
I am never prepared to read these notices.You taught us well, Guenter, to do our jobs carefully and with cheer. Your legacy shall endure. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 05-03-2010 06:43 AM
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astroborg
Member Posts: 200
From: Woodbridge, VA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 05-03-2010 06:45 AM
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garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 05-03-2010 06:50 AM
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-03-2010 06:51 AM
Personally, words fail me at the moment to convey the warmth and friendship that Guenter shared each time we would see each other. I had the honor of working on a simple website to accompany the release of his autobiography and ever since then, without fail, Guenter would always greet me -- or introduce me to others -- as "the nice fella that designed my great website." I had always wanted to find the time to visit with him and update that site, to grow it into a multimedia archive of his adventures through life and perhaps a blog where he could periodically share his thoughts... an online guide to where Guenter Wendt. Sadly that project will now become a tribute to his memory instead. My condolences to his daughters and to all who came to know the Pad Leader.  |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-03-2010 06:57 AM
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Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 05-03-2010 06:58 AM
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mdmyer
Member Posts: 900
From: Humboldt KS USA
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted 05-03-2010 06:58 AM
Miranda came and told me of his passing. We met him for the first time at the San Antonio autograph show and we saw him at least 3 times after that. He spoke to the group of Future Astronaut Training Program students from the Cosmosphere when they visited the Cape last year. He was a grand gentleman and he will be missed. |
Leon Ford
Member Posts: 309
From: Shreveport, LA, United States
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-03-2010 07:06 AM
Godspeed Guenter. Thank you. |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 05-03-2010 07:12 AM
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tncmaxq
Member Posts: 287
From: New Haven, CT USA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 05-03-2010 07:21 AM
It was a privilege to meet him at the autograph show in DC, Memorial Day weekend 2003. He was an historic figure. I am so sorry to hear the news. |
jut2y
Member Posts: 260
From: worthing west sussex united kingdom
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 05-03-2010 07:29 AM
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divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 05-03-2010 07:33 AM
Three years to the day after losing Wally. Two of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet.Has the family said anything about where to send donations? I must have a manhattan later in his honor. It was an incredible privilege both knowing and working with the man. I always made a bee line to him to say 'Hello' if I knew he was there.
Bizarre weekend. |
mensax
Member Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 05-03-2010 07:36 AM
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jamato99
Member Posts: 147
From: Leesburg, VA USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 05-03-2010 07:47 AM
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DMScott
Member Posts: 354
From: Lexington, MA, USA
Registered: Dec 2005
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posted 05-03-2010 07:47 AM
I was lucky to have met him and have had an opportunity to interact with him on several occasions. He will be missed. |
cddfspace
Member Posts: 609
From: Morris County, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 05-03-2010 07:58 AM
Sad day indeed. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-03-2010 08:00 AM
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Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1587
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 05-03-2010 08:00 AM
A great man. With each passing of a space giant, our country dies a little. |
eurospace
Member Posts: 2610
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-03-2010 08:01 AM
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DChudwin
Member Posts: 1096
From: Lincolnshire IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 05-03-2010 08:07 AM
He lived a long and good life. For all his reputation as a strict taskmaster at work, he had a great sense of humor and was friendly and approachable. I'll never forget asking for his autograph at the San Antonio UACC show and then being invited to sit down with him, as he told stories in his German accent for 15 minutes or more. For example, he said after he retired he had been asked to return to the "White Room" but he declined because he himself was not able to fulfill the physical requirements he set for pad workers. I can just see Guenter and Wally in heaven playing gotcha jokes on each other. Godspeed! |
Michael Davis
Member Posts: 528
From: Houston, Texas
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 05-03-2010 08:17 AM
It was an honor to have met him once. We owe so much to his endless safety efforts and commitment to perfection. |
spaceheaded
Member Posts: 147
From: MD
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 05-03-2010 08:19 AM
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