Arnold Deane Aldrich
July 7, 1936 ~ May 28, 2020
Arnold Deane Aldrich, 83, of Vienna, VA, passed away on May 28, 2020 after a brief battle with cancer. He was born in Arlington, Massachusetts on July 7, 1936.
Arnold enjoyed a 35-year career at NASA spanning all manned-mission programs including Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle. He served as Skylab deputy program manager; Apollo Spacecraft Program Office Deputy Manager during the Apollo Soyuz Test Project; and Orbiter Project Manager during development of Space Shuttles Discovery and Atlantis. Following the Challenger accident, Arnold was appointed director of the Space Shuttle Program where he led recovery and return-to-flight efforts. He then served as NASA Associate Administrator for Aeronautics and Space Technology and, later for Space Systems Development. Arnold also led initiatives with Russia leading to the incorporation of the Russian Soyuz spacecraft as the on-orbit emergency rescue vehicle for the International Space Station. Arnold joined Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in 1994 as Vice President. He retired in 2007.
Arnold’s honors include Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive, Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive (twice), NASA Distinguished Service Medal (three times), Northeastern University Outstanding Alumni Award, Arthur S. Fleming Award, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, VFW Aviation and Space Award, AIAA Space Systems Award, and NASA Exceptional Service Award. He was a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a member of the National Academy Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board. Arnold began his career after earning a BS in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University in 1959.
Following his retirement Arnold continued to support space initiatives including mentoring young aerospace program managers, serving as an AIAA Honorary Fellow, and helping select award winners for annual NASA Rotary Awards. Arnold enjoyed baseball, boating, fishing, gardening, and camping with friends. Arnold also researched and published a genealogy book of the Aldrich family from 1605 until present day. In recent years he was an ardent supporter of the American Battlefield Trust.
Arnold is survived by his wife of 61 years, Eleanor Harris Aldrich; his son Russell Aldrich and wife Resa of Ashburn, VA; his daughter Susan Zoch and husband David of Columbia, MD; and four grandchildren, Chad Aldrich, Natalie Aldrich, Olivia Aldrich, and Lisa Zoch.
Arrangements will be postponed until gathering restrictions are eased, and will be communicated here once finalized.
Arnold enjoyed a 35-year career at NASA spanning all manned-mission programs including Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle. He served as Skylab deputy program manager; Apollo Spacecraft Program Office Deputy Manager during the Apollo Soyuz Test Project; and Orbiter Project Manager during development of Space Shuttles Discovery and Atlantis. Following the Challenger accident, Arnold was appointed director of the Space Shuttle Program where he led recovery and return-to-flight efforts. He then served as NASA Associate Administrator for Aeronautics and Space Technology and, later for Space Systems Development. Arnold also led initiatives with Russia leading to the incorporation of the Russian Soyuz spacecraft as the on-orbit emergency rescue vehicle for the International Space Station. Arnold joined Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in 1994 as Vice President. He retired in 2007.
Arnold’s honors include Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive, Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive (twice), NASA Distinguished Service Medal (three times), Northeastern University Outstanding Alumni Award, Arthur S. Fleming Award, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, VFW Aviation and Space Award, AIAA Space Systems Award, and NASA Exceptional Service Award. He was a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a member of the National Academy Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board. Arnold began his career after earning a BS in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University in 1959.
Following his retirement Arnold continued to support space initiatives including mentoring young aerospace program managers, serving as an AIAA Honorary Fellow, and helping select award winners for annual NASA Rotary Awards. Arnold enjoyed baseball, boating, fishing, gardening, and camping with friends. Arnold also researched and published a genealogy book of the Aldrich family from 1605 until present day. In recent years he was an ardent supporter of the American Battlefield Trust.
Arnold is survived by his wife of 61 years, Eleanor Harris Aldrich; his son Russell Aldrich and wife Resa of Ashburn, VA; his daughter Susan Zoch and husband David of Columbia, MD; and four grandchildren, Chad Aldrich, Natalie Aldrich, Olivia Aldrich, and Lisa Zoch.
Arrangements will be postponed until gathering restrictions are eased, and will be communicated here once finalized.
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This was one of my favorite days spent with Grandad because of how excited he was to tell all of his grandchildren about his career at NASA and teach us about the different shuttles and exhibits using his personal stories and memories. I loved this day because I was able to learn, firsthand, how special and important my grandfather was with NASA, and be inspired by how passionate and hard-working he has always been. Love, Natalie
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I always enjoyed my conversations with Arnie over the years as well as our business and professional relationships. Among a few others in the business, he was always someone I used as a model for my own development. Best to the family Mike Moore
Sincere condolences to Ellie and family. Arnie’s many years of participation on the AIAA honors and awards committee was valued and I, as a former AIAA staffer, truly appreciated his inputs.
Dear Ellie and family – My memories of working for Arnie are some of the most challenging and most rewarding of my career. Arnie saved NASA no less than three times by my count. He was an unsung hero to so many of us. Prayers and hugs to you all. Kristen Erickson, former Space Shuttle Business Manager, Office of Space Flight, NASA Headquarters
Ellie – Angela and I were saddened to hear that Arnie had passed away. We both worked with Arnie at NASA and were inspired by him. He was truly a great American who made a real difference in space exploration worldwide.
We are neighbors of Arnie and Eleanor and had the privilege of touring Arnie’s basement to see many of the wonderful and historic items he had from his career with NASA. He was an enthusiastic presenter that added so much color to the mementos and souvenirs of truly historic items. This is especially poignant with the recent mission to send 2 American astronauts to ISS on Falcon 9 SpaceX rockets. I’m just sorry we didn’t get to spend more time with him as he was a pleasure to be around. It isn’t often you get to meet someone who has participated in such big, historic events. The Tecala’s
Dear Eleanor, I am so sorry to learn of Arnie’s passing. He was such a great person and a strong leader in our space program. I hope you and your family will find solace in knowing how many people Arnie touched and how widely he was admired for his professional accomplishments and personal characteristics. With my heartfelt condolences, Dave Thompson
Arnie was a dear friend as well as my Boss during my last 20 years at NASA. I learned a lot from Arnie during this time, however our friendship carried beyond the work place. We spent many hours together at NASA meetings and at Shuttle Launches. My wife and I enjoyed visiting and socializing with Arnie and his family. I remember attending his Daughters wedding , the many Gold Cup Steeplechase events, swapping out Outboard Motors on our boats, visits at Lake Anna, and our dinning out excursions. My prayers are for you Arnie and your Family.
Eleanor, I’m sorry about your loss of Arnold. I knew and worked with him at NASA for many years. I also remember meeting you a number of times at Goddard dinners and other events. I always liked and admired Arnie. I considered him a friend as well as a colleague. May he rest in peace. Vern Weyers
Great man and engineer. Enjoyed working under him at NASA, JSC. Gary Doerre
My name is Barry Greenlaw and I live in Houston. This morning I saw the obituary in the Houston Chronicle for Arnold and it brought back memories of a story I thought I might share with you. I grew up in Arlington Mass (and later Lexington) and my parents were pretty close friends of Arnold’s parents (I believe they probably went to the same church and they played bridge together). I was a little younger than Arnold (born 1938) but our parents arranged (what we would call today) play dates and we saw each other very occasionally. The only time that I specifically recall was a day at the beach (I believe it was Nahant Beach – north of Boston). I was probably about 5 years old at the time and had not learned how to swim. For whatever reason I walked into the ocean and kept walking right under water and had no desire or the wherewithall apparently to turn around and get out. Arnold pulled me out and bascially saved my life, and this incident has been seared in my memory every since, one of the earliest memories of my childhood. I’m sure we saw each other after that occasion, but when I turned six, we moved to Lexington and thus we went to different school systems and while our parents continued to be friends I don’t remember any significant interaction with Arnold after that. When I moved to Houston in 1974 I remember my mother telling me that Arnold worked for NASA and had a very significant job, but since I had not had any contact with him for decades, I never made any effort to look him up although I did see has name in the paper on occasion. And thus the obituary this morning with the story of his remarkable life and career, of which you all most be extraordinarily proud, came as a complete surprise to me, and brought back the memory of that day at the beach. Thinking about it all day today, I decided that his family should know that story of so long ago, that your husband and father was a remarkable individual not only in his career but as a very young boy as well, and I am cetainly eternally grateful for his actions on that day. I send sincere sympathy for your loss of a truly remarkable person who I was proud to know for even a short period of time. Barry Greenlaw Houston, Texas bagreenlaw@aol.com
Thank you so much for sharing that story. Russell Aldrich
Eleanor I was very sorry to read about the passing of Arnold. I had met him only a few times but I well remember you and our work together with the AIAA over the years. Please accept my heart felt sympathy. Bernie Kaufman
I remember vividly the day I met Arnie back in 1975: I was a green RA at Draper and I had to make a presentation to a board chaired by Arnie, who was the highest ranking Shuttle program executive I had ever met. I remember admiring and envying his poise, total command of the system, and lightning-quick grasp of the material being presented at the board. I thought “when I graduate and start working, I want to be like him”. My admiration for Arnie grew over the years and talking to him at the AIAA Fellows dinner was my social/professional highlight every year. Eleanor, I will miss him dearly. Mirella also remembers him fondly from all the Goddard dinners and send you her warmest sympathies.
Arnie and I started our schooling in first grade at Adams school in Lexington, Massachusetts. My deepest sympathy to Ellie and the family. What a legacy he leaves. Sincerely, Joanne Wilson Nottebart
It is very sad to learn about the death of Arnie Aldrich that was a reputed Academician, member of the International Academy of Astronautics since 1997 after being a corresponding member since 1992. He played an important role in our organization during several decades and we all miss him. We send condolences to his wife and family. Dr. Jean-Michel Contant Secretary General IAA
We will miss Arnie. He was an icon in the aerospace industry, much loved by his peers and associates.
When you’ve worked at NASA for 20 years, you meet a great number of extraordinary and unforgetable people. Arnie is at the top of that list. I was priviliged to work with him in Houston and again in Washington, and it was awe-inspiring to watch him manage people and situations. A man of exceptional intellect and great personal character, the likes of which is rarely seen.