Dr. Hans P. "Al" Bruckner

1925 - 2016

Dr. Hans P. "Al" Bruckner

Cocoa Beach

Dr. Hans Paul ("Al") Bruckner, age 90 of Cocoa Beach, FL passed away on October 25, 2016.

He was born on November 23, 1925 in Transylvania. He attended the University of Erlangen in Bavaria, Germany where he earned his Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate degrees in engineering and law.

Al survived action on the eastern front during WW2 where he was wounded numerous times. In November 1955, he immigrated to the US and lived in Tampa, FL where he met his future wife Norma. They were married in August 1956.

Al started his life-long career in the aerospace field in April 1956. He was first associated with Pan Am's Guided Missiles Range Division in a variety of missile test operations positions. 10 years later he joined the Bendix Corporation's Launch Support Division, becoming the Division's Vice President in 1969. In 1980 he joined the Lockheed Space Operations Company at KSC as Vice President on the Shuttle Program. In 1984, Al served on the Board of Directors of The Bionetics Corporation and continued as an advisor to Bionetics Photo Services up until the time of his death.

His corporate career encompassed early IRBM and ICBM development programs as well as all manned space efforts, from Mercury to Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle. This corporate activity was followed by over 25 years working as an international Aerospace Consultant, bringing with it close ties to European aerospace companies and Government Agencies, such as the European Space Agency and the national space agencies of France, Germany and Italy.

In 2005, Dr. Bruckner was honored by the National Space Club, receiving its Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to our nation's Space Program. Al always felt his greatest achievement came in 1961 when he launched his good friend Alan Shepard into space.

Dr. Bruckner is survived by his niece, Dr. Andrea Siems of Munich, Germany and many friends within his extended family. His beloved wife Norma, whom he had undying love for, her parents, his sister Renate Nunweiler, of Munich, Germany, and Dr. Hans and Emmi Bruckner of Munich, Germany, preceded him in death.

A celebration of Al's life will take place on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2016 at 6:00pm at Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home, 101 N. Brevard Ave. Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

Al had a love of children and animals; in lieu of flowers, donations to children's or animal-related charities would be greatly appreciated. You may sign Al's guest book at www.beckman-williamson.com