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Allen Keith Berndt

10/07/1931 - 06/17/2025

Allen Keith Berndt obituary, 10/07/1931-06/17/2025, Columbia, MD

BORN

10/07/1931

DIED

06/17/2025

Allen Berndt Obituary

A Celebration of the Life of Allen K. Berndt

Allen Keith Berndt "Al" passed away on June 17, 2025 after a short illness. Allen was born in Evansville, Indiana on October 7, 1931, to Arthur and Edith E. Berndt. He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann (Jodi) Lajaunie Berndt, his nephews James Harris and Richard Harris, brother-in-law David Lajaunie, and cousins: Diana, Karly, and Erin McNeish and David Dragoli (Samantha). He was predeceased by his sister Donna B. Harris Wilson.

Allen enjoyed a life of many experiences and accomplishments doing mostly what he loved best. In 1958, after completing military service as a sonar technician in the U.S. Navy, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University, majoring in Physics, spending the summers with his sister and her young family. During that time, he became close to his young nephews. This bond deepened over the years and brought him much happiness. In 1959 at age 28, Allen was awarded a fellowship in Physics to study at the University of Munich. He soon became enamored with the city of Munich, the Bavarian environs, and German beer. He was both honored and excited by the Munich opportunity. Fortunately, he had studied German 4 years in college which helped him become fluent as all the lectures were in German.

Allen enjoyed a distinguished 54-year career as a software engineer and System Engineer with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as one of its earliest employees. After college, he worked for the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and the Vanguard mission. Allen joined the newly created Goddard Space Flight Center in 1960. During the 1960-1970s he was a member of the NASA Network Engineering Division, developing satellite tracking and commanding systems for the worldwide tracking network of ground stations. In the 1980-1990s, he played a key role in the evolution of the ground station network to the satellite-based Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). He was also the System Engineer for the modernization of the TDRSS ground terminals at the White Sands Complex in New Mexico. After retiring from NASA in 1995, he joined STEL (ITT, Inc.) as a consulting engineer for the second generation of communications satellites developed for the NASA Space Networks until retiring in 2012.

On June 14, 1969 in McLean, Virginia, he married Jo Ann Lajaunie, (Jodi). They were married for 56 years. Allen was a life-long learner and a true Renaissance Man. He nurtured a keen interest in physics and philosophy throughout his life. He was an avid reader and loved classical music, as evidenced by a 20-year subscription to the National Symphony. He was an excellent tennis player for many decades. He loved to travel, and through his work at NASA, he made many trips to six of the seven continents. He and Jodi also traveled extensively throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States. If Allen had to pick a favorite place in the U.S., it would have been the Berkshire hills and mountains of western Massachusetts. He and Jodi spent 31 summers hiking the countryside, often with their beloved black lab, Guinness. They enjoyed the Tanglewood Music Festivals, the summer theater, and the Clark Art Museum. Allen especially enjoyed those Berkshire vacations when friends and relations joined them there.

Allen pursued excellence throughout his life, always putting forth his best efforts with whatever mission he undertook. His quick wit and sense of humor made him a joy to be around. He will never be forgotten and always be missed. A Celebration of Life will be held later this summer.

The Berndt family would like to thank their relations and many friends for all their support and thoughtfulness during these last few months. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude's (ALSAG/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital), 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 or to the Best Friends Animal Society (https://bestfriends.org)

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Jun. 29, 2025.

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Christopher Kim Caudill

June 29, 2025

"Uncle Al" was a huge influence on my life. Allen and my father became best friends at Goddard. I first met Allen when he joined us for dinner at our house in Glen Burnie, MD. I was a 7th grader well first in space sciences through my father´s influence and a budding classroom comedian. At that dinner, Allen showed me that you can be really, really smart, witty and laugh loudly to fill the room. Over all my formative years later, I recalled his hearty laugh anytime I needed a smile. I looked towards Allen as one of my great influences on my life. I so looked forward to seeing Allen and Jodi when visiting. In the last few years, I became very interested in quantum physics, the scientists and philosophy in its development and current theories expanding on its principles. I was very lucky to share that with Allen. He cautioned me to be very discerning in these new theories by emphatically saying if they cannot be thoroughly tested, then remain doubtful of their truth. I believe Bohr, Dirac and Feynman would be very proud of him. Needless to say, I loved the guy.

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