posted 03-18-2020 07:10 PM
A Fun guy, a person who was interested in talking to young kids about space, and a Man who Lived Large.
RIP Al.
Grounded! Member
Posts: 475 From: Bennington, Vermont, USA Registered: Feb 2011
posted 03-18-2020 07:17 PM
My wife and I sat at Al's table during a Spacefest banquet in Tucson. His good friend Jim Rathmaan was quite ill at the time and this was very much on his mind.
He had us laughing with a story about his home in Vero Beach being invaded with fiddler crabs after a hurricane. Great conversation and great bbq!
Godspeed Al Worden.
SpaceCadet1983 Member
Posts: 365 From: Pacific NW, United States Registered: May 2012
posted 03-18-2020 07:41 PM
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Erika Honeycutt LMP Member
Posts: 16 From: Locust, NC USA Registered: Aug 2012
posted 03-18-2020 07:56 PM
R.I.P Colonel Worden, you will be missed. Praying for the family.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2765 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 03-18-2020 08:03 PM
Always super friendly and easy to talk to, he will be truly missed.
Panther494 Member
Posts: 530 From: London UK Registered: Jan 2013
posted 03-18-2020 08:04 PM
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Paul78zephyr Member
Posts: 739 From: Hudson, MA Registered: Jul 2005
posted 03-18-2020 09:37 PM
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RobertB Member
Posts: 246 From: Israel Registered: Nov 2012
posted 03-19-2020 12:20 AM
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Kevin T. Randall Member
Posts: 1369 From: Chesham, Bucks UK Registered: Dec 2008
posted 03-19-2020 01:53 AM
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Andy L Member
Posts: 22 From: England Registered: Aug 2012
posted 03-19-2020 02:16 AM
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contra Member
Posts: 320 From: Kiel, Germany Registered: Mar 2005
posted 03-19-2020 02:49 AM
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ringo67 Member
Posts: 193 From: Seekonk, Mass., USA Registered: May 2003
posted 03-19-2020 03:20 AM
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Spaceflyer Member
Posts: 209 From: Nauheim, Germany Registered: Jan 2003
posted 03-19-2020 03:26 AM
What can I say? It hit me pretty hard yesterday when I got the news about Al's death.
I've known him for about 25 years and in that time I've developed a great friendship. Just in the last 6 years I spent almost 3 months with him in Michigan, Florida, Washington DC, Houston and Germany.
I have so many wonderful memories that would fill a book. Above all, there are some traditions that we had.
There would still be so much to write and I will summarize this in another story.
Al you are now on your second and final journey to the stars. I will always remember you fondly and you will live on in my exhibition "Apollo and Beyond" at the Technik Museum Speyer, Germany.
You were a wonderful person and a great role model for me. I will miss you. RIP Al.
Exhibition "Apollo and Beyond" section "The Moon":
Buran OK-GLI flight deck:
perineau Member
Posts: 313 From: FRANCE Registered: Jul 2007
posted 03-19-2020 04:30 AM
Ad astra...
Spoon Member
Posts: 155 From: Cumbria, UK Registered: May 2006
posted 03-19-2020 07:50 AM
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ea757grrl Member
Posts: 767 From: South Carolina Registered: Jul 2006
posted 03-19-2020 07:59 AM
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LM1 Member
Posts: 844 From: New York, NY Registered: Oct 2010
posted 03-19-2020 08:16 AM
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David Carey Member
Posts: 922 From: Registered: Mar 2009
posted 03-19-2020 09:07 AM
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rjb1elec Member
Posts: 299 From: Merseyside, England Registered: Oct 2004
posted 03-19-2020 12:15 PM
Gutted my grandson met Al last year and was fascinated about his EVA, Al took time to answer his questions, before we left he put his hand on his shoulder and told him there is nothing you cannot do if you only try.
A couple of minutes out of his time, and a memory made forever for a 9 year old boy (and his grandad).
Deepest sympathies to the Worden family.
Tallpaul Member
Posts: 210 From: Rocky Point, NY, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 03-19-2020 12:40 PM
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Khedron Member
Posts: 34 From: Italy Registered: Nov 2012
posted 03-19-2020 12:54 PM
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Apollo14LMP Member
Posts: 297 From: UK Registered: Nov 2007
posted 03-19-2020 01:17 PM
Al was the very first astronaut I ever met. I was so lucky to get the chance to meet, speak to, and have a photograph taken with him.
I have a great photo of Al holding my daughter aged 4 at the time... one to treasure.
I enjoyed listening to Al's presentation at Autographica. I have heard many and I have this one down as the best. Very sad we have lost another hero.
A gentleman, hero, pilot and astronaut who had time and patience for anyone he met. My deepest heartfelt sympathy to Col Worden's family.
skyguard23 Member
Posts: 56 From: Central Switzerland Registered: Dec 2016
posted 03-19-2020 01:49 PM
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DG27 Member
Posts: 205 From: USA Registered: Nov 2010
posted 03-19-2020 02:58 PM
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Charlie16 Member
Posts: 539 From: Italy Registered: Dec 2010
posted 03-19-2020 03:05 PM
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Glint Member
Posts: 1069 From: New Windsor, Maryland USA Registered: Jan 2004
posted 03-19-2020 07:24 PM
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carmelo Member
Posts: 1070 From: Messina, Sicilia, Italia Registered: Jun 2004
posted 03-19-2020 07:46 PM
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CJ Member
Posts: 65 From: Cherry Hill, NJ Registered: Nov 2003
posted 03-19-2020 08:49 PM
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bwhite1976 Member
Posts: 287 From: Belleville, IL Registered: Jun 2011
posted 03-19-2020 08:55 PM
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BA002 Member
Posts: 199 From: Utrecht,NL Registered: Feb 2007
posted 03-20-2020 01:28 AM
I am saddened to hear of the passing of Al Worden. He was unique as an astronaut and a poet and as a human being altogether.
I had the good fortune of meeting him on a few occasions. He attended Starmus Zurich last year. His lecture was one of the briefest but certainly the most eloquent, as he treated us to some of his poems. They give such great insight into both his personality and how he experienced his lunar adventure.
APG85 Member
Posts: 310 From: Registered: Jan 2008
posted 03-20-2020 06:31 AM
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spaceheaded Member
Posts: 162 From: MD Registered: Feb 2003
posted 03-20-2020 07:21 AM
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ejectr Member
Posts: 1875 From: Killingly, CT Registered: Mar 2002
posted 03-20-2020 09:34 AM
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SBIV-B Member
Posts: 50 From: Dacula, GA USA Registered: Aug 2008
posted 03-20-2020 09:40 AM
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328KF Member
Posts: 1343 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 03-20-2020 10:34 AM
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Jake Member
Posts: 470 From: Independence, OR U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2002
posted 03-20-2020 11:13 AM
What a class act - great guy who will be missed...
BarryLowe Member
Posts: 26 From: Castle Rock, CO Registered: Mar 2003
posted 03-20-2020 12:36 PM
A super nice and fun guy to talk to. One of the really good ones. I feel lucky to have enjoyed a bit of time with he and his wife Jill back in Spacefest 3. And his book gave me a much greater appreciation for the CMP role than I already had. I'll miss you Al.
KSCartist Member
Posts: 3005 From: Titusville, FL Registered: Feb 2005
posted 03-20-2020 02:33 PM
I shared this on Facebook just five weeks ago when he celebrated his 88th birthday:
I've heard people lament that we should have sent artists, poets and writers to the Moon instead of (or in addition to) test pilots. For only those people could adequately share the experience in a way we Earth bound could appreciate.
Well we did.
This is my favorite poem. You'd never know it was written by an aeronautical engineer and test pilot.
OCEANS
In the distance, barely seen, The thin horizon knifes between The ocean and the sky. I know that I could reach it If I had wings to fly.
Then gazing upwards, far away, The stars and planets dance and play In an infinite ocean of space, Like Sirens of old they beckon me To join In their embrace.
Close at hand the pelicans pass As wind whispers softly through the grass And waves gently stride upon the beach.
The world is calm and peaceful
No further than my reach.
How can I leave this lovely place To venture forth in outer space? Consider the dangers I might find
Exploring Ganymede Another question in my mind.
While I love the scene around My mind imagines, without bound. Why I feel the call to roam
Could it be a Lunar flight is one small step towards home?
I met Al Worden in 1997 when he along with the other Apollo astronauts were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Honestly "met" is a generous description of the encounter. What happened is I shook his hand and congratulated him like a few hundred other people did.
We actually met ten years later at an autograph show at KSC. He was out back of the building having a smoke when I arrived. I worked up the courage to introduce myself: "Hello Colonel, I'm Tim Gagnon." He replied "call me Al." He laughed when I confessed my apprehension and said "I've heard you have a reputation for zero-tolerance to BS." He said "that's true." Ice broken.
Al is one of the most generous, gracious and kind people you'll ever know.
I'll miss his honest bark of a laugh, the way he greeted me, ("Timmy!") and the generous way he became an ambassador for space exploration and inspiring the next (three) generations after his.
Rest In Peace Al and thank you.
YankeeClipper Member
Posts: 632 From: Dublin, Ireland Registered: Mar 2011
posted 03-20-2020 03:50 PM
Ad Astra...
Mike Isbell Member
Posts: 572 From: Silver Spring, Maryland USA Registered: Aug 2003
posted 03-18-2020 07:10 PM
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