Myron Albert “Mike” Pessin, 91, of Huntsville passed away peacefully on Monday, September 11, 2023, surrounded by those who loved him dearly. Mike was born to Louis Jerome Pessin and Betty Sakon Pessin in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 18, 1932.
Mike graduated from Tulane University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1953. Prior to starting his career with NASA, he served in the U.S. Army and worked for various aircraft companies in Dallas, TX. He married the love of his life, Annette Stamper Pessin, in 1959. He moved back to New Orleans, and eventually to Huntsville, to begin his NASA career and to raise his two daughters.
His passion and life’s work were centered around all things aerospace. He cut his teeth on the Centaur, Saturn, and Apollo projects before a long and distinguished career in the Space Shuttle program. He was a Launch Honoree for the 10th Anniversary of the Space Shuttle and received a coveted Silver Snoopy for his dedication to flight safety and mission success. At the time of his retirement from NASA, he was the Chief Engineer of the External Tank at Marshall Space Flight Center. As his expertise was still in demand, he continued consulting on various aspects of the Space Program well into his 80s, including the SLS Program and the recently launched Artemis. In recognition of his outstanding contributions in aeronautics, he became an AIAA Associate Fellow in 2018.
During retirement, Mike never slowed down and continued to share his vast knowledge whether authoring papers on the history and lessons learned of the External Tank or mentoring the next generation of rocket scientists. Despite only reaching the rank of private in his short stint in the Army, he became a regular speaker on leadership for the Army War College at Redstone Arsenal. He spent hundreds of hours volunteering as a NASA Emeritus Docent at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, sharing stories and history of the U.S. Space Program with visitors from around the world.
Known for his brilliant mind, world-class memory, and endless supply of jokes, he will be greatly missed by all who crossed his path. Mike belonged to the remarkable generation of scientists that successfully launched the historic race-to-space. He loved the incredible people with whom he worked, and together they are the broad shoulders upon which our current and future space programs will stand.
He is survived by his devoted daughters, Hilary Claybourne, of Huntsville, AL and Andrea Keller, of Peachtree Corners, GA; son-in-law, Tommy Keller; honorary son-in-law, Matt Jones; beloved grandchildren, Christopher Claybourne, Morgan Keller, and Riley Keller; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his amazing wife of 56 years, Annette, parents, and brother, Jack Pessin.
Visitation will be from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Sunday, September 17th at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, 2320 Bob Wallace Ave., SW, Huntsville, AL 35805. A memorial service will immediately follow at 3:00 p.m. A private burial service will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Space Exploration Memorial Fund.
