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... ![](http://www.collectspace.com/review/obituary_guenterwendt01.jpg) 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. ![](http://www.collectspace.com/review/obituary_guenterwendt02.jpg) |
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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