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Israel Taback Obituary
The son of Sadie and Max Taback, he was born July 3, 1920, in New York City, where he attended school and studied at the Cooper Union Engineering College.
In 1942, he joined the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory of NACA, which became the Langley Research Center of NASA. During his 35 years there, he designed instrumentation for the X-15 aircraft and directed the design of a Navigational and Guidance Research Laboratory. He also was Spacecraft Systems Manager of the Lunar Orbiter Project and was Deputy Program Manager for the Viking Program.
After retiring from NASA, he joined Bionetics Corporation and continued to work for many years as an aerospace consultant. He received a number of special awards and honors, including the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal.
He also was awarded an honorary science Ph.D. from Old Dominion University.
Mr. Taback was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Mary Ellen Taback.
He is survived by his son, Max Taback of Virginia Beach; his daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Bernard Pasquier of Quaker Hill, Conn.; his granddaughter, Wendy A. Fairman of New Mexico; and the families of his brother, Leonard Taback of Claremont, Calf.; his sisters, Sara Gantwarg of Sunrise, Fla., and Vivian Shlisky Taback of Aptos, Calf.
All services are private. Arrangements are by Weymouth Funeral Home. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Israel Taback
Dave Fairman
April 19, 2025
Rest in Peace. An engineers engineer!
Richard Snyder
August 29, 2020
Israel will always be remembered by me as a very fine person and a very exceptional engineer. He was my leader on Viking.
Richard Snyder
August 28, 2019
I still view Mr. Taback as the most talented engineers I have ever worked with. He was also a very honest person with a fine sense of humor. He and his wife were always kind and thoughtful to my family.
norn crabill
September 15, 2008
iz was the best engineer i ever met . i learned a lot of practical stuff from him , like, if you can`t rough out an answer to a tough problem on the dinner napkin , you don`t really understand the problem . and a fair and great gentleman . but he wouldn`t stand for bs .
Milton Holt
September 13, 2008
It was rewarding and an honor to work with Isreal on the Viking Project. His excellent technical and managerial skills keep us on the track to success.
Virginia Hall
September 13, 2008
Dear Taback Family,
It was an honor and a pleasure to work with Israel over the years. Blessings and Peace to all of you.
Sincerely,
Dave Faringer
September 11, 2008
I am sorry to find out from a family friend of mine that Israel Taback has
passed away, he was of course a founding mentor for FIRST Robotic Team 122, a gifted
engineer, and great contributor to the "Space Race Era" push for manned
exploration of space. Charlie Byrnes is my Mothers cousins husband and an
imaging engineer for all the pictures taken by NASA of the Moons
surface....Israel and Charlie worked together...
Israel will be missed...
Dave Fahringer
Sallie Bruno
September 9, 2008
Dear Ann and Max
To have lost both of your wonderful parents in one year is a terrible blow. You know how much your family was part of my life growing up. What I remember most about your father is his sense of humor. As I'm writing this, I can see that wonderful smile and twinkle in his eye. I will miss him.
My love and prayers for you
Sallie
Richard Snyder
September 9, 2008
Dear Taback Family,
It was my privledge to work with Mr. Taback on the Viking Project and later as a reviewer for SAIC. Mr. Taback set a standard for excellence that always inspired me. I learned so very much from working for him. I do not believe that Viking could have succeded with out Israel's technical leadership. He will be long remembered by all of us who were lucky enough to have worked with him. Mary Ellen was always kind and gracious to me and my family.
Dick Snyder
Beverly Geer
September 6, 2008
Dear Taback family.
Iz was one of the greatest engineers that I've ever known, always on track. He had the special ability to get to the exact detail in solving an engineering problem, We both came to The Center in 1942 and shared many projects and travel experiences, even in our retirement years. His kowledge and experiece will be sorely missed in the scientific world. His presence brought a special love, sparkle and joy to the world around him. Your Mom, Mary Ellen, was so gracious and a perfect partner in life. We miss them both.
Beverly & I extend our sincere condoances.
E. Bsrton Geer,
Hampton,Va.
William Jordan
September 6, 2008
Max,
So sorry to hear about your father's passing. Unfortunately I just found out and want to convey my condolence to you and your family.
Bill Jordan
Rosalee Rau
September 5, 2008
Dear Max and Ann,
Both of your parents were special folks and loved by me in a special way. I will miss them......
A flower is growing in my yard that your Mother helped me dig up from her flowers and insisted I "take it home", and I have a NASA pin your Dad wanted me to have. These are "small" items, but hold big memories of who your parents were and what they loved.
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers!
Rosalee Hewitt Rau, Elkton MD
Olaf Storaasli
September 5, 2008
Dear Taback family: I had the good fortune to work with Iz during my NASA career on a materials project where he sought out my computer expertise. He was extremely innovative and picked up the computer aspects rapidly. He maintained the curiosity of a child and shared an extremely positive attitude about whatever he tackled which was contagious. His passing is like a tall timber in the woods crashing down.
Karrin Williams Frankie
September 5, 2008
Dear Max & Ann: So sorry to learn about your father's death. I have sent out the message to your WHS CLassmates. Know that both of you are in my prayers.
Pat McCormick
September 5, 2008
My condolences to the Taback family. Iz was a great talent. His ability to understand the most difficult concepts and explain them simply was incredible. He will be sorely missed by those who had the great privilege to work with him.
Jackie Kallick
September 4, 2008
Mr. Taback and I worked together on Lunar Orbiter and Viking. He was a terrific person and educated me well! He will be missed.
Howard Wright
September 3, 2008
My condolences to the family of Israel Taback. Israel and I have some past experiences in common since we are both from Brooklyn and we both graduated from the same coledge, The Cooper Union. Israel's fundamental understanding of physics will be a great loss to our nation.
John Graham
September 3, 2008
My condolence to the Taback family on your loss of such a fine and talented gentleman. Iz was a special individual who was a friend to everyone he knew. Being associated and working with Iz during the Lunar Orbiter and Viking Programs was one of my greatest experiences and Iz was a huge and important contributor.He will be missed and remembered.
-John Graham, Poquoson
Warren Kelliher
September 3, 2008
My sincere condolences. Iz will be sorrily missed at our next Viking reunion.
-Warren Kelliher (NASA)
George Curran
September 3, 2008
Dear Taback family,
I am sorry to hear of the loss of your father. I had the wonderful pleasure to work with israel for a few years at Bionetics. He always seemed to have a smile and a happy word to share. He will be missed.
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