posted 05-26-2018 06:44 PM               

Lynn and I moved to Titusville in 1991 so I could become involved and closer to the space program. I attended every event at the old Astronaut Hall of Fame and chatted with Al every chance I got. He was always kind a gracious with his time (maybe because I never asked about going to the bathroom in space), I asked about his art.

In 2009 I gifted Al with my Apollo Program Commemorative and in 2014 I showed him the final art of the Apollo 12 “Spirit” patch that Jorge Cartes R, Ed Hengeveld and I designed.

I had so been looking forward to seeing Alan Bean again this year at Spacefest. I was going to share the Skylab Set that he consulted on.

He was a childhood hero who grew in my admiration and respect because he generously shared his time and advice to a guy not qualified to clean his brushes. I’ll miss him and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

I hope he, Pete and Dick are having a blast on the Ocean of Storms together.

Fair winds and following seas, Captain.

posted 05-26-2018 09:48 PM               

Fifty years ago, this summer, as a fifteen year old high school student on my first visit to the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston (now Johnson Space Center), I was walking around the outdoor exhibits adjacent to the original Visitor Center (Building 2) and I came upon this gentleman who was patiently explaining and answering questions about some of the exhibits to a small group of visitors that had gathered around him. I strategically maneuvered myself until I was standing right next to him and attentively listened to his entire impressive presentation.

I noticed his name on his NASA identification badge, but initially thought that he might be a NASA engineer, since I was only familiar with the astronaut names of the first two groups.

Before leaving the Space Center, I made the obligatory visit to the gift shop and purchased a few souvenirs and a picture book about the astronauts and their families.

Back at the hotel, later that evening, while browsing through the book, I was totally star-struck when I came across his name and picture and realized, on that day, I had met my first astronaut!

posted 05-27-2018 02:52 AM               

I am fortunate to have met him on a number of occasions but my first encounter with him was over the mail, when I ordered a signed copy of one of his books. He had misspelled my last name and as an apology he added a quick drawing of the CSM. So for the price of a signed book I have an original Bean painting. Obviously a cherished memento to one of my favourite astronauts.

posted 05-27-2018 04:23 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by tedc:
My youth is slipping away... and my heroes.

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