Bernard F. "Bernie" Beckelman

Bernard F. "Bernie" BECKELMAN Aviation and Aerospace Pioneer Passes Bernie was most recently a resident of Green Valley, Arizona. After a brief battle with cancer, Bernie passed away peacefully on 9/14/2010. He was born December 19, 1921 in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he spent his early years. He was one of three sons of Frank and Lillian Beckelman. He studied aeronautical engineering at the University of Minnesota and enjoyed a successful career in the aeronautics industry for over 46 years. Bernie began his career in Seattle, Washington at the Boeing Company in 1941. In 1943, he was selected as Flight Engineer for Development Flight tests on the B-29 airplane preparing for long range Pacific Ocean missions. In 1946, he was assigned to GAPA (Ground to Air Pilotless Aircraft) the first Boeing missile program. Following the GAPA program, in 1949, he was assigned to the BOMARC Project where he was the Senior Development Staff Engineer for Propulsion, Aerodynamics, and Mechanical Equipment. From 1950 - 1959, Bernie made many scientific and engineering contributions in the fields of supersonic inlets, ramjet combustion, and rocket technology. During the period 1961 - 1964, he managed Boeing's 4,600 person engineering task force, in Huntsville, Alabama that developed and tested the Apollo / Saturn V rocket in preparation for the manned Lunar Landing Mission. In 1966, Bernie joined Rocket Research Corporation in Redmond, Washington as its Vice President for Planning and Programs and soon became the company's President and Chief Operating Officer for nearly 20 years. Bernie was extremely creative. He enjoyed saddle making, painting, wood working, sculpting, and deep space technology. He had a lifelong love of music. He made over twenty (20) high quality violins and he performed in several musical bands and orchestras playing the saxophone and clarinet. Bernie is survived by his loving wife of over 65 years, Ruth Hjelm Beckelman, two sons Jeffrey Beckelman of Palm Springs, California and Robert Beckelman of Green Valley, Arizona, five grandchildren Julia Beckelman, Justin Beckelman, Brenna Beckelman, Natasha Beckelman, Alexander Beckelman, his brother Stanley Beckelman of Seattle, Washington, and many nieces and nephews. Bernie is predeceased by his brother Sheldon Beckelman. His family will dearly miss him. Bernie touched the lives of many people with his generosity and wisdom. The family requests that all donations in his memory be made to the American Cancer Society or to the wonderful people who cared for him at the Carondelet Hospice in Tucson, Arizona.