posted 05-03-2010 05:33 AM               

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!

Guenter Wendt, 86, 'Pad Leader' for NASA moon missions, dies

Guenter 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.

posted 05-03-2010 06:37 AM               

You taught us well, Guenter, to do our jobs carefully and with cheer. Your legacy shall endure.

posted 05-03-2010 06:51 AM               

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.

posted 05-03-2010 07:33 AM               

Has the family said anything about where to send donations? I must have a manhattan later in his honor.

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.