Author
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Topic: Spacesuit pioneer Joe Ruseckas (1917-2010)
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-22-2010 12:13 AM
Author Dennis Jenkins shared the unfortunate news from the David Clark Company that Joe Ruseckas passed away on March 19. Writes Jenkins: Joe was the guy that designed and sewed the full pressure suits for Scott Crossfield and Marion Carl, and accompanied them in the P2B [the Navy's version of the B-29] to suit them up for their D558-2 [Douglas Skyrocket] flights... The following obituary ran in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette on March 20: Joseph A. Ruseckas, 92, passed away Friday, March 19, 2010, at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home. His wife of 63 years, Marcia J. (Fleck) Ruseckas, died in 2008. He leaves a daughter, Connijean Murphy; a brother, Valentine Ruseckas; and 3 grandchildren, Max Goodman, Amanda Wheelock-Graves, and Dama Goodman. He was predeceased by a daughter, Marjo Thibodeau; brother, Vincent Russell; and sister, Katherine Stevens. He was born in Worcester, son of Constanza (Beckute) and Anthony Ruseckas. He was a WWII veteran, having served in the Army Air Corps. He was Vice President of Research and Development at the David Clark Company, where he worked for 43 years. He was a member of Greendale People's Church, OX5 Pioneers, Hump Pilots Assoc., Aero Club of NE, National Aeronautic Assoc., MA Aviation Historical Society, NE Air Museum, American Air Museum (Britain), Air Force Museum (Dayton, Ohio), Test Pilots Historical Foundation, Air Force Assoc. Aircraft Owners & Pilots Assoc., American Astronautical Society, and the Dragon Lady Assoc. Calling hours will be held at Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street, on Sunday, March 21, from 3-6 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton, at 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 22. Please omit flowers and donations can be made to Greendale People's Church, 25 Francis St., Worcester, MA 01606. Among the space systems for which he receives credit, Ruseckas is remembered as the designer of the "first partially pressurized 'spacesuit' for keeping humans alive for lengthy periods at ultrahigh altitudes" for the U-2 program ["The C.I.A. and the U-2 Program, 1954-1974" Thomas Fensch, 2001] and the communications headset worn by Apollo astronauts on the Moon.A moment of silence can be signified by a reply with no words and only a period. |
SpaceAholic Member Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-22-2010 12:28 AM
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cddfspace Member Posts: 609 From: Morris County, NJ, USA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 03-22-2010 05:54 AM
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NavySpaceFan Member Posts: 655 From: Norfolk, VA Registered: May 2007
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posted 03-22-2010 06:10 AM
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history in miniature Member Posts: 600 From: Slatington, PA Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 03-22-2010 06:24 AM
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jasonelam Member Posts: 691 From: Monticello, KY USA Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 03-22-2010 06:30 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 03-22-2010 06:45 AM
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Jeff Member Posts: 474 From: Fayetteville, NC, USA Registered: May 2009
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posted 03-22-2010 06:56 AM
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Dennis R Jenkins New Member Posts: From: Registered:
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posted 03-22-2010 09:10 AM
Although largely unknown outside the industry, Joe was instrumental in the development of pretty much every modern aviation pressure suit produced in the United States (excepting the Navy-Goodyear efforts). Even at 92 years of age, he was active in the community and provided much counsel and guidance to me for my history of pressure suits I am writing for NASA. He will be missed. |
kr4mula Member Posts: 642 From: Cinci, OH Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 03-22-2010 11:49 AM
Godspeed. |
Delta7 Member Posts: 1505 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 03-22-2010 12:41 PM
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AstroAutos Member Posts: 803 From: Co. Monaghan, Republic of Ireland Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 03-22-2010 01:03 PM
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Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-22-2010 03:34 PM
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kyra Member Posts: 583 From: Louisville CO US Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 03-22-2010 07:08 PM
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Jim Member Posts: 73 From: San Antonio TX Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 03-22-2010 07:35 PM
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East-Frisian Member Posts: 586 From: Germany Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 03-23-2010 12:28 AM
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randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 03-23-2010 02:38 AM
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KSCartist Member Posts: 2896 From: Titusville, FL USA Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 03-23-2010 01:30 PM
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GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2476 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 03-23-2010 01:35 PM
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capoetc Member Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 03-23-2010 07:33 PM
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Spoon Member Posts: 143 From: Cumbria, UK Registered: May 2006
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posted 03-24-2010 12:45 PM
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dss65 Member Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 03-24-2010 09:22 PM
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Spacefest Member Posts: 1168 From: Tucson, AZ Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 03-24-2010 11:59 PM
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spaceman1953 Member Posts: 953 From: South Bend, IN Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 03-25-2010 09:09 PM
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