posted 08-17-2021 10:45 AM               

Lola Dembowski Morrow, born October 24, 1927, died peacefully in her sleep April 22, 2021, leaving two sons, Theodore J. and Stephen F. Morrow, and daughter Linda Morrow Thompson and grandsons Grant and Matthew Thompson.

She succeeded as a single mother and became the "Secretary to the Astronauts" during NASA's Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs in Florida.

Afterwards she moved to Denver and started three companies: Denver Apartment Source, Resident Evaluation Screening, and Employment Background Screening, and was active in Zanta and various metro real estate organizations. After selling RES, she fulfilled her passion to travel the world and enjoy life in Denver.

posted 08-17-2021 11:21 AM               

For those less familiar with Lola's history, here is how she summarized her career from an earlier post:

I worked at the Cape and then on Merritt Island as a NASA employee from 1962 to 1969.

I was assigned to Manned Spacecraft Operations at the Cape while the headquarters were still at Langely. When Johnson Space Center opened in Houston, our office reported to Flight Crew Operations (FCO) under Warren North. I was always with FCO [Flight Crew Operations] in their branch office at the Cape and KSC [Kennedy Space Center].

I was a travel clerk for several months, then did miscellaneous assignments, staffing many of the offices, contract, engineering, the weather girl, etc. for several weeks and ended up with Art Hand, in charge of astronaut training. I love it! Then ordered into the new astronaut office by Deke [Slayton] to be their secretary. That is a story in itself.

Since they had secretaries in Houston, my job was really a gal friday with a wide variety of duties, from furnishing the quarters, to hosting a cocktail party, later it became a dinner party for celebrity guests and family from 100 to 500 attendees while the guys were in quarantine the night before launch etc, etc.

I was so awed working around so many of the old Space Task Group members, Walt Williams, Kenny Kleinknecht, Chris Kraft, Bob Gilruth were just a few to mention besides the seven astronauts. I have fond memories of those days and years.

And from a 2006 event at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, from left to right: Buzz Aldrin, Al Worden, myself, Lola and Jim Lovell:

posted 08-17-2021 07:20 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Kite:
...if Lola managed to publish her book

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posted 08-18-2021 04:23 PM               

She was a wonderful person who lived and exciting and full life. She will be missed for sure. God bless her.