MICHAEL J. WARGO

1951 - 2013

MICHAEL J. WARGO obituary, 1951-2013, Alexandria, VA

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MICHAEL WARGO Obituary

WARGO--Michael J., Chief Exploration Scientist for NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission, died unexpectedly on August 4 at his home in Alexandria, VA. He was 61 years old. Dr. Wargo was the son of Margaret and John J. Wargo of Clairton, PA, both deceased, who themselves were the children of Slovak immigrants. Michael was a leading contributor to NASA's human lunar and planetary exploration program. As a scientific member of many lunar missions, including the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the LCROSS satellite, Dr. Wargo helped map resources for human missions to the moon and participated in the discovery of ice in the shadows of lunar craters. In a nearly two-decade career at NASA, he received numerous awards including NASA's Exceptional Service Medal and seven group achievement awards. He was a member of the team planning the next robotic mission to Mars in 2020 and worked gathering crucial scientific information needed to allow humans to be sent safely to the moon, Mars and near-Earth asteroids. Much of his work has helped develop a "roadmap" for human and robotic space exploration for the next two decades. Dr. Wargo graduated from M.I.T., with an SB degree in Earth and Planetary Science and received a Doctorate in Materials Science in 1982. At MIT, he was recognized with the John Wulff Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Hugh Hampton Young Memorial Fund Prize for exhibiting leadership and creativity while maintaining exceptionally broad and interdisciplinary interests. He began his career at NASA by turning a fledgling microgravity research division into a worldclass program. NASA drew on Dr. Wargo's ability to explain complex scientific findings in straightforward terms as a spokesman at agency press conferences. NASA is asking the International Astronomical Union to name a crater on the moon in his honor "so his name will be forever enshrined in the heavens." His colleagues and his friends remember him as inspirational, full of passion and energy, with a booming voice and a great heart. He is survived by his wife, Adele Morrissette of New York, NY, and brothers John, David and Robert, all of whom graduated from M.I.T. Visitation will be held on Sunday afternoon August 11, at Everly-Wheatley Funeral Home and funeral services will be held on Monday August 12 at 12:30pm at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, both in Alexandria VA. Gifts may be made to MIT in memory of Michael Wargo for the Department of Materials Science Endowed Fellowship Fund by contacting Bonny Kellerman, [email protected] or at 617-253-9722.

Published by New York Times on Aug. 9, 2013.
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Memories and Condolences
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The void left by Mike's passing in our lunar community is still there. He is still missed very much and while he may be gone, he is definitely not forgotten!

Clive R. Neal

Friend

August 3, 2022

We still love you and still miss you.

Renee & Ron Roman

Friend

August 3, 2021

To Mrs. Adele Wargo and Family. Our best wishes for continuing on and still our heartfelt sympathies are with you over the loss of Dr. Wargo. Michael remains in our hearts and we still miss him. Renée & Ron Roman

Renee Roman

Friend

August 3, 2020

Camille Moody McCue

April 11, 2017

To Adele, his loving wife and the Wargo Family - we pass on our condolences at the year date memorial of Michael's passiing. (8/4/'13). It must have been a hard year. Even for us just knowing his presence is gone has still left us heavy hearted at times. It had to harder for you. We sincerely hope your future gets better and you can find joy again. Sincerely, Renee Roman

Renee and Ron Roman

August 6, 2014

We are so sorry to read about the passing of Michael. It is a shock to see that he had passed in August. He was a good guy , as are all the 'boys' and we are blessed to have come to know them through his brother John. - Terry & Joan Brozick

December 31, 2013

Mike was a very generous, life-loving, and caring person to work with work. He was an inspiration to all people and especially all scienticific professionals who cared about applying science to advance everyone. Good bless Mike.

Warner Babcock

December 25, 2013

Adele, John, David, and Robert: Mike was a leader; a mentor; a warm, funny, engaging man; brilliant at explaining anything to anyone; an esteemed colleague; and a very good friend. I do miss him.

September 30, 2013

He was a good mentor to me, and a friend. He will be missed.

Colin Enger

September 3, 2013

Mike was a great guy. I have many great memories of him at MIT in the 80's. You could always count on Mike to go with you to the Muddy Charles, your party or someone else's. He always kept the conversation lively and I never had to ask him to repeat a darn word no matter how loud the music was. Mike was a HIFI guru. A lot of us would hear him speak the gospel on speakers, amps and turntables. The last time I saw Mike at MIT, he convinced me to go to a party around 4 in the morning while I was walking home along the Charles river. He gave me a ride on his motorcycle to the party and we watched the sun rise. After that I had not seen him for years until I made a visit to NASA to talk about growing some crystals in space. I was meeting with the director and he immediately asked me if I knew Mike. Five minutes later Mike popped in and his trademark voice broke every nano crystal of ice in the room. It was great to see him. I wished our paths had crossed more. He made everything fun! My deepest sympathies go to his family. Know that he had a great impact on us all.

Rik Riman

September 2, 2013

Bob and family: Our deepest sympathy at the loss of your brother, Michael. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Joy Richardson & Michael Moore (Former, fellow U. S. Steel Researchers)

August 25, 2013

I only intereacted with Mike at NASA a few times. But each time I remember him as a man of humor, with a big laugh that filled the room, even when we were in a rather dull meeting. I will miss him.

Susan Keddie

August 19, 2013

I was very sad to hear of Mike's passing. We were good friends in high school and graduated together. He and another friend, Mary Lou Salego were joint valedictorians of our class. I was aware of Mike's association with MIT and also NASA and knew he was very accomplished but had no idea of the extent of his contributions to the world of science! I feel very proud of his determination and hard work and only wish I could have told him that in person. It is wonderful to see how much he was loved and appreciated by people everywhere! I hope to hear more about his crater on the moon. I hope it becomes a reality; he would love that honor! Deepest, heartfelt sympathey to all of Mike's loved ones! He will never be forgotten.

Jeanne (Voelkel) Finefeuiaki

August 14, 2013

I had the good fortune to work with Mike on the NASA LRO mission where he was a strong advocate for science and where he was concerned about radiation effects on future manned missions. I hope Mike's family takes some comfort in knowing that his work will touch all future space explorers. We were all fortunate to cross paths with him.

Joe Mazur

August 12, 2013

I'll miss his smiling face in the hallways.
Brandy Henson

August 12, 2013

Mike was a good man and a good friend when we were kids. He will be missed.
Curt Marlatt - CHS '69

August 12, 2013

When the Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences was created in the early 1990s at NASA HQs, Mike played a significant role in creating a world-class microgravity research program, and took the lead in helping the White House and Congress understand the role of microgravity in materials research. He was a very powerful leader, and charismatic person--and with his big and generous soul, touched my heart and the hearts of his colleagues--he remains one of the kindest and most spiritually generous people I have ever met. I miss him.

diana hoyt

August 12, 2013

Oh No! Say it's isn't so!!! Michael J. Wargo, a friend from Clairton is gone from this life! Mike and I were in Boy Scouts together (Troop 67) and life guards at the Clairton Pool. He was always the one to bring knowledge to us perpetual Tenderfoot's. I also got the opportunity to meet Mike for lunch when he was still at MIT and I was in a training class nearby. I was shocked to hear that he was so close to me, living in the DC area where I lived for 38 years. I never knew that he had been working for NASA, but he did have huge impact on the Agency.
I truly miss him. And from the other comments, I missed a great national technical celebrity.
Mike, may you rest in peace.
Sympathies to his immediate and close family.
Regards,
David (Baldovski) Baldwin, Class of '68

David Baldwin

August 12, 2013

Keeping the Wargo Family in my heart and prayers.

Lorrie Grianik Anderson

August 11, 2013

Noah Petro

August 11, 2013

What an amazing guy. We will miss his ready smile, joyous laugh, and incredible capability at NASA.

Beth Beck

August 11, 2013

Dear Adele,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family at this time. We were blessed to have had the thrill of knowing Michael who led a life of significance, but never failed to treat everyone with respect no matter what their "bandwidth".
He loved you deeply and we know the time you spent together was very very special.
We will never forget your magical wedding, the visits to Maine with "power walks" along the sea and the wonderful wit,
humor and humbleness that was Michael.
Words cannot express our sympathies and the deepness of your loss.
Fondly,
Janet & Fred

August 11, 2013

I was very saddened when I heard the news on Michael's untimely death. My prayers and thoughts are with the family. Please let me know anything I can do for you just to help you cope with this difficult situation. I'll always be there for you. Be strong.
With love and sympathy.

Elisabeth DeMarse

August 10, 2013

Oh how our hearts ache with the loss of not only a national treasure, but of a friend, teacher, and one of the kindest and best human beings you could ever meet.

Michael was truly one in a million in so many ways, not only in terms of ultra high brain power but also of his positive influence on the many people who got to know him.

It was indeed our great privilege to learn from and share time with Michael.

Our hearts go out to Adele and his brothers who all had so many reasons to be so proud.

We pray for Adele and the family and extend our deepest sympathies.

Michael, you'll always be remembered by us. Your time with us was far too brief.

Harold and Gloria Vogel

August 10, 2013

I knew him when...we were classmates at St. Joseph school grades 1-8, and Clairton High School. Mostly I remember when the nuns would ask a difficult question, impatiently tapping their toes; and students would typically turn to Mike to save the day! I did get to spend a bit of time with Mike at one of our high school reunions. I'm proud to have known him. I send my sympathy to his family. Rita (Filowat)Croyle

August 10, 2013

Sorry to hear about Mike's untimely passing. I remember him very well from Clairton HS. He was a great person. I worked for NASA in Silicon Valley, CA for 21 years, but unfortunately our paths never crossed.

Alex Barna

August 10, 2013

I went to Clairton High with Mike, and was always amazed and humbled by his incredible intellect. We weren't close friends, but he made ALL of us proud with his achievements. I'm so saddened by his loss; may he rest in peace. My deepest sympathies to all of his friends and family. Don Caligiuri, Class of 1969

Don Caligiuri

August 10, 2013

Mike's incalculable loss is a shock and close to the worst thing that could have happened for the Agency. His amazing ability to bring people together over contentious issues will be so, so hard to replace. But most of all I remember him with great affection as a wonderful human being who always had a kind word for me and who took an interest in my fledgling NASA career. Once again, it's one of the good guys who is taken from us too soon. My sincerest condolences and best wishes to all Mike's family, especially Adele.

David Draper

August 10, 2013

I had the honor of working with Mike to establish a set of guidelines for exploring the moon, known as the Strategic Knowledge Gaps. He was a master of space knowledge and diplomacy. He will be missed and we will carry on with the quest of exploring the solar system, as he would have desired. One day we'll visit his crater on the moon and honor him there - he will be remembered by many.

Rob Mueller

August 9, 2013

My heartfelt sympathies to family and close friends of Mike. He was an exceptional man. I worked with him in the IT field and appreciated his sense of humor, his exceptional insights and contributions in whatever work he tackled. I also loved his booming voice and laugh which could energize any room! Gone too soon. RIP, Mike

Sharron Sample

August 9, 2013

Our friendship with Michael goes back over 20 years ago when he first left Cambridge and came to Virginia to begin his career at NASA. It was during the Desert Shield and Desert Storm campaigns. We were a small, tight group. We collectively shared in the excitement of making new friends, commencing new assignments and careers and discovering new activities all around the Nation's Capital. Our annual trek with him to the White House Ellipse with wassail cups in hand to see the National and State Christmas trees was always a joy.

Michael was a very special guest at our wedding. He was unofficially adopted by my parents and declared a long, lost son of the Roman Clan. Michael was a cherished friend in the 90s and we too remember his booming laugh and great sense of humor.

We lost track over time and although our contact was but for a few short years he left quite an imprint in our hearts. His memory remains dear and our condolences go to his wife and to rest of the Wargo Family.

Ron and Renee Roman

Ronald & Renee Roman

August 9, 2013

Mike Wargo was the rock at NASA HQ who, almost single-handedly, kept alive the connection between science and future human space exploration through all the twists and turns of policy.   At meetings of the external working groups, his presence gave assurance that somebody in Washington was listening and comprehending and responding.  Mike was intelligent, broadly experienced, wise, articulate, empathetic, and jovial.  When he asked my opinion, I felt valued.  When he offered his opinion, I learned.  Those of us who strive for robust science content in future human exploration have lost a trusted guide on the murky and convoluted path to the future. We will miss him.

Wendell Mendell

August 9, 2013

May God bless his soul, and ease the pain of his loss.

Farouk El-Baz

August 9, 2013

It was a big shock to hear of Mike's passing. He was a consistent source of good advice for me when I was chair of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group, of which he was Executive Secretary. His encyclopedic knowledge of issues involved with human spaceflight allowed synergies to be developed between science and exploration. He always said "science enables exploration and exploration enables science". Above all, I am proud to have been able to call him my friend.

Clive Neal

August 9, 2013

Mike was has truly positively influenced my life. Memories of his laughter, zest and enthusiasm for life, and knowledge will always stay with me. Working with Mike on international collaborations was a highlight of my NASA career. Mike was a truly special person, I will miss him.

Kate Maliga

August 9, 2013

Our deepest sympathy. May you rest in peace! Joe and Donna Bartolomeo

August 9, 2013

John, David and Bob, sorry to hear this terrible news. May he rest in peace. With deepest sympathy.
Roger and Kathy Grisnik Tachoir

August 9, 2013

Mike was an IT mentor, fellow geek and a friend to me here at NASA Headquarters. He always stood for what was right. I will dearly miss him!

Alex Pline

August 9, 2013

I worked with Mike for 19 years and remember him best as "Microgravity Man," when he would don a cloak and mask and entertain at Take Your Children to Work Day by demonstrating the microgravity glove experiment. He was a wonderful co-worker and is missed already.

Susan Curley

August 9, 2013

Adele, John, David, and Robert - My thought and prayers are with you. We all will miss him terribly. I am so very glad I reconnected with him in April and got to hear his booming laugh one last time.

Lise Schioler
MIT, Course III, 1983

August 9, 2013

Adele, John, David and Robert: I had the great pleasure of working with Mike at NASA over a number of years. He was absolutely wonderful to work with & I'll miss him sorely. My thoughts are with you during this sad time.

Robin Frank

August 9, 2013

Mike was a brilliant student at Clairton High school where we were graduated together in 1969. Eternal rest grant unto him, Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Fr. Richard Perozich

August 9, 2013

Our hearts are with Adele and the Wargo family as we remember Mike with much love.

Thomas & Jessica Witt

August 9, 2013

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