RICHARD "Dick" PASSMAN

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RICHARD PASSMAN Obituary

Richard A. Passman "Dick" (Age 94)
Passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2020, from complications of Covid-19. Born in Cedarhust, NY, son of Matthew and Ethel Passman. He was predeceased by sister, Lenore Davis in 2012. He leaves his wife of 70 years, Minna (Hocky) Passman, of Silver Spring, MD; three sons and their spouses, Henry Passman (Nancy), Don Passman (Bonnie Pauska) and Bill Passman (Emily); grandchildren, Leo, Rachel, Leah and Mark, Natalie and Danny, Zack and Karina, Adam, Jeffrey and Natalie, and Danielle and Brandon, and great-grandchildren, Teddy, Oscar, Merrick, Bennett, Guillermo, Hilda, Annabelle and Bradley. Mr. Passman was a pioneering aerospace engineer and manager and enjoyed family, friends, playing piano, baking bread, attending concerts, travel, and golf. He would light up a room wherever he went. Dick earned a B.S. and M.S. in Aero Engineering and B.S. in Math from University of Michigan,1947. After service in Navy Pilot Training, WWII, and work at Grumman, he was chief aerodynamicist at Bell Aircraft Corporation through 1956, working on rocket aircraft X-l (breaking the Sound Barrier), X-2 (mach 3), and X-16. Next at Genera Electric, in PA, 1957 was Manager of Advanced Systems, and developed re-entry vehicles for CORONA, the first spy satellite, MOL, LANDSAT, plus systems for Apollo. Moving to Washington, DC in1974, he joined the Department of Energy to be Deputy Director of the LMFBR, reactor program. He ended his career at Grumman, helping to re-design the ISS, Space Station. In retirement he volunteered for many years at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, where he co-wrote "X15: The World's Fastest Rocket Plane and the Pilots Who Ushered In The SpaceAge". Contributions in his honor can be made to the Air and Space Museum. support.si.edu/support Online obit and guestbook: www.BaldwinCremation.com/obituaries/mr-richard-passman/

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Published by The Washington Post from Apr. 15 to Apr. 19, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for RICHARD PASSMAN

7 Entries

Sandy Estroff

April 17, 2020

I have known Dick and Minna all my life. He was a brilliant, yet modest man. Kind, caring interested in so many different disciplines.
He never discussed his many amazing achievements. If asked, he would, but was always quick to give credit to others.
Multi faceted, he loved golf and other sports in addition to scientific innovations. He was a true Renaissance Man!
He never spoke a mean spirited word in my presence.
May all of the Passman family find peace.
We love all of you.

Karen Perlmutter

April 16, 2020

I have memories of Minna and Dick and their family that go back to 1968. Our familys vacationed together Once in the Canary Islands. Minna and Dick remained the closest of friends with my parents for the rest of their lives. My husband and I visited with them when they lived in Maryland and helped them to downsize when they moved to Florida. Dick was always an incredibly handsome, happy , friendly man. I hope he and my dad are together up there playing golf or sharing space secrets. Dick, you will be missed.

Bill Passman

April 16, 2020

I wanted to add a few more items to the list of interesting items:
1. Navy pilot training during WWII
2. BSE and MSE in Aeronautical Engineering. BSE in MAth
3. Analysis of aerodynamics of Convair flying car.
4. Grumman Aircraft on Long Island.
5. Work on the X1 at Bell Aircraft - first Supersonic Airplane
6. Chief Aerodynamicist of Bell X2 - first airplane to achieve Mach-3.
7, Designer of Bell-X16 High Altiltude spy plane. (he told us almost nobody ever got to design the whole plane)
8. Manager at GE Re-Entry Systems at GE, developing U.S. first spy satellite, Corona.
9. Manager on GE ICBM Re-Entry systems, U.S. nuclear deterrent.
10. Inventor and Manager of GE MIRV, MARV, multiple warhead ICBM systems. The backbone of U.S. nuclear deterrent for 50 years. (He went over his boss' head to push for the contracts and design of multiple warhead systems)
11. General Manager at GE, Valley Forge Missile and Space Division, various systems for Mercury, Gemini and Apollo.
12. I especially remember study of using Rogallo Wing to land Gemini as a glider onto land, and SNAP-27 power system, for use in satellites and on the moon.
Mom and Dad were invited guests for the launch of Apollo13,
13. Developed GE Nimbus weather satellite and Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS). Later called LandSAT, first downward looking Satellite to help analyze Earth's vegetation and features.
14. Ran GE's MOL, Manned Orbiting Laboratory, design and development of Air Force Manned Space Station, until project was cancelled.
15. Business Analysis at GE on many corporate projects, one being commercialization of projector TVs for home usage.
15.1 GE PIC, may have been the first portable/ mobile and satellite phone system. TRANSATEL Transportable Satellite Telecommunications terminal. PIC for commercial usage. (Portable International Communications?)
https://d3so5znv45ku4h.cloudfront.net/Box+021/002_Telecommunications+Meetings+General+Electric+Company,+1969+May+8.pdf
Trips all over Europe (many with mom), attending and giving briefings on space technology and sales support effort to places like Iran.
One of the first groups (with mom), with The Franklin Institute, to tour China in 1974, after Nixon reopened contacts there.
16. Deputy Director of U.S. Department of Energy Fast Breeder Reactor, until project was cancelled.
17. Department of Energy work on Alternative Fuels projects.
18. Manager at ARC-Coal, developed coal-based substitute for oil-fired power plants, to cut fuel costs.
19. Back to Grumman to work on re-design(s) of the ISS, International Space Station, as budget changes forced design changes.
(worked for Fred Haise, Apollo-13 astronaut)
20. Retirement and Volunteer work at the Air And Space Museum, culminating in a wonderful book about the X-15.
21. Named: AIAA Fellow

Nancy Butz

April 16, 2020

Hal and I met Dick and Minna in Washington when Minna and I worked for Frommer Travel..we continued that friendship over the years when we all moved to Florida...I feel very sad at this news but know my dearest is there to greet him..sending my love Minna..

April 15, 2020

May you find strength from the love and care that surrounds you and comfort in the memories that you shared. Please accept my sincere condolences. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Ellen Stofan

April 15, 2020

Dear Mrs. Passman,
On behalf of the National Air and Space Museum, I send our condolences to you and your family on the passing of your husband, Richard. His contributions to the development of aerospace technology were many, especially regarding his work as chief aerodynamicist for the Bell X-2 research airplane, the first airplane to fly faster thatn Mach 3.
Dick also left his mark at the National Air and Space Museum as a volunteer researcher with immense expertise in aeronautical engineering and design. His collaboration with John Anderson on the 2014 book "X-15: The Worlds Fastest Rocket Plane and the Pilots Who Ushered in the Space Age", resulted in a highly acclaimed and authoritative contribution to aerospace history. He accomplished that and other research programs while being a great friend and colleague to the Aeronautics Department.
We know Dick will be missed greatly. We were proud to know him, and the Museum was all the better because of his presence.
Sincerely,
Ellen R. Stofan, PhD

Bill Passman

April 15, 2020

Dad was most proud of his family. He and Minna flew to Boston to celebrate their 70th anniversary June 2019, and were thrilled with so many friends and relatives including grandkids who came long distances to celebrate with them. Dad always appreciate the visits and phone calls. He would light up when we would facetime him, even during the quarantine time in their new apartment. I miss that smile, and I miss the humility those times he told stories about his space career.

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