Charles T. D'AIUTOLO

NEWPORT NEWS - Charles T. D'Aiutolo died on April 26, 2010; he was 87 years old.
Charles was born in Newburgh, N.Y., on July 5, 1922, the 15th and youngest child of Phillip and Mary D'Aiutolo.
He was educated in the New York public school system. Upon his high school graduation he enrolled at Clarkston College (now University) to study mechanical engineering. His studies were interrupted when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp, where during World War II he flew 25 missions as a bombardier/navigator in the Eighth Air Force. He received numerous decorations including seven air medals. He was nominated to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross and he elected not to receive the Purple Cross since he felt that the minor wound he received was not worthy of the award.
After being discharged he was married to the former Ellen L. Weeks, also of Newburgh, N.Y. He then attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to study Aeronautical Engineering. After graduation he joined NACA (now NASA) at Langley Research Center and resided in Buckroe Beach.
While in Buckroe, he and his wife were very active in establishing St. Joseph's Catholic Church. At Langley he conducted research on the stability and control of airplane-like models at transonic speeds, launching the models by rockets at the Wallops Island Facility.
When NACA became NASA he became interested in the effects of space environment on space flight. He conducted research on the effects of meteoroids on space structures. To achieve such data he developed a satellite that was one of the first satellites launched from the Wallops Flight Station of early Scout Launch Vehicles.
In 1962 he transferred to NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was Chief Meteoroid Technology Programs and Deputy Chief, Flight Programs in the former Office of Advanced Research and Technology Office. Here he was responsible for a road meteoroid program consisting of laboratory studies, radar measurements of meteoroids, and flight projects. The program culminated in the launching of three Pegasus meteoroid satellites on Saturn I rockets. As a result of these tests it was concluded that there was no meteoroid hazard to Apollo spacecrafts. Following this program he oversaw a program to study technologies directed to advanced commercial aircraft.
He returned to Langley and undertook the study of alternate fuels for aircrafts. He retired in 1978 after serving thirty years NACA/NASA.
After retirement he became a wine consultant at the former Easy Go Wine Gourmet in Hampton which he enjoyed for several years before retiring once again.
He is survived by his wife, Ellen, of 64 years; and his four children, Charles Edwin and his wife, Jayne of Elkins, W.Va., Paul Thomas of Baltimore, Md., and his wife, Pam of Ellicott City, Md., MaryEllen Lyst and her husband, Ron of Annapolis, Md., and Katie Gunderson and her husband, Dick of Newport News. He is also survived by three grandsons, Jacy D'Aiutolo and his wife, Whitney, Richie and Jamie Gunderson; seven granddaughters, Rene Cook and her husband, Mark, Roxanne Lyst, Alison Dennison and her husband, Jason, Annamarie Coleman and her husband, John Thomas, Elena D'Aiutolo, Jessica Hinojosa and her husband, Jayson, and Danielle Gunderson; and two great-grandchildren, Jaida and Jayson Hinojosa Jr.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 29, 2010, at W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 30, 2010, in Peninsula Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, Charlie requested donations be made to the Virginia Air and Space Museum, 600 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton, VA 23669.
Please leave condolences at www.wjsmithandsonfh.com.
Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.