Kurt Heftman

HEFTMAN-Kurt Heftman, passed away September 20, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of 82. He was born May 27, 1928 in Vienna, Austria. Mr. Heftman will be honored in memory by his family, extended family, relatives, colleagues and friends all over the world. Between 1959 and 1983, Mr. Heftman played a major role in the operations of all U.S. unmanned lunar, planetary and interplanetary and spacecraft at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). He received a NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1976. Mr. Heftman served as Director of Operations at the European Space Agency (ESA) coordinating international efforts for tracking and ground support operations for all ESA spacecraft. Mr. Heftman received an Aerospace Laureate for 1990 for his significant contribution to ESA's series of highly successful deep space orbital missions from 1983 to 1993. Mr. Heftman earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Texas in Austin in 1958. He served in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserve from 1949 to 1959. Mr. Heftman grew up in the international settlement in Shanghai, graduating from St. Francis Xavier School, Class of 1945. In 1949, Mr. Heftman and his parents immigrated to the U.S. and he became a U.S. citizen. After his retirement, Mr. Heftman returned to live in the U.S. and served as substitute teacher, tutored high school math students and held a variety of part time jobs. He read voluminously and enjoyed Internet correspondence with colleagues and friends, including those from his childhood. Services will be held October 27, 2010 at 2:00PM at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Disabled American Veterans in his memory.