Herman K. "Fritz" Widick

HERMAN WIDICK COCOA BEACH Herman K. Fritz Widick, 76, a Space Pioneer, passed away Friday, Septem ber 28, 2007. When he was born September 1, 1931 his spark ignited on the banks of the mighty Missouri River. Today we carry the flame from that spark forward as he no longer can. As a young man, Fritz grew up with eyes wide and mind open, vistas every where.He was steeped in river mud and gunpowder rockets (some exploding), self-built boats with sails hewn together by the family sewing machine, sweethearts, and heartaches. This was all in the shadow of next-door neighbor Amelia Earhart. Despite losing his mother due to a sudden illness and sister, Sara, in an automobile accident, Fritzs childhood would lead to a quest and a passion. With the disappearance of Ms. Earhart, Fritz soon replaced her as favored son of his hometown -Atchison, Kansas, and he would go on to lead Midwest America and the world forward into the quest of Space. Fritz left Atchison, Kansas and graduated with the first five engineering physics students from Kansas University in 1954. A Navy officers commission fol lowed and he was Officer of the Deck aboard a destroyer on the Sea of Japan. Following his honorable discharge, he mar ried Kathleen McKee and moved to Cocoa Beach in 1957. He began his career in the fledgling U.S. Space Program. His efforts, praised by astro nauts and engineers throughout his 40 years of service, directly contributed to the successful completion of Atlas, Titan II, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and the Space Shuttle. I flew them all, he said, serving on more pro grams than almost any other person in NASA history. As Chief Test Conductor for the lunar module and lunar rover he interacted with the astronauts on the Apollo missions. Follow ing Apollo 11 a letter regaling his achievements was sent to him by then President Nixon. Atchison, Kansas welcomed him as a hero with Fritz Widick Space Days. A weeklong cele bration was held in his honor. Cocoa Beach offered Fritz more than just a career. The Atlantic Ocean and Banana River Lagoon were his play grounds. Fritz was a family man and adventurer, and his four children thrived on his leader ship. Family time consisted of cross-country cartravel, visits back to Kansas, fishing and div ing trips, and camping. Destina tions spanned from the Keys and Bahamas to Canada, Kansas, and California. At his direction, the family completed construction of the sailboat Guffey and sailed for years in the Banana River and Bahamas. His four children are respected medical professionals in Brevard and Palm Beach Counties. Fritz died Friday September 28th, at home following a strug gle with cancer. He left fighting, not ready to leave this place he called paradise. He is survived by his sister, Joe Casterline and her husband Paul; his ex-wife, Kathleen; and his four children, Ann Giganti and husband James, Kristin Smallwood and husband Chuck, Mark Widick and wife Jeanette and Michael Widick and wife Maki. He has nine grandchil dren. And now, like the many rockets he launched into Space, his thunderous echo fades into our twilight. We are left to cher ish his memory as we blink away the phantom images seared into our eyes during his brilliant life. Good luck and God-Speed Fritz! Your loving family and friends will miss you. Services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday October 6th, at the First United Methodist Church of Cocoa Beach, 3300 North Atlantic Avenue. In lieu of flowers, a donation maybe made to: Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Please send to: Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, 6225 Vectorspace Blvd., Titusville, FL 32780.