Posted: 12/17/2018 5:07:20 PM
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Statement on the passing of Rona Ramon from the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
The Intrepid Museum mourns the passing of Rona Ramon, and we offer our sincerest condolences to her children Tal, Yiftach and Noa. Ramon, the widow of Israel’s first and only astronaut, died of pancreatic cancer Monday at age 54.
Rona’s husband, Ilan Ramon, was a crew member on America’s 2003 Columbia space shuttle mission, which suffered a tragic accident that killed all on board. Rona later lost her son Asaf, an Israel Air Force fighter pilot, in a training accident.
Rona subsequently established the Ramon Foundation to promote academic excellence and social leadership among Israel’s young people.
Rona was a treasured friend of the Intrepid Museum. In 2014-15, the Museum partnered with the Ramon Foundation on the first ever Intrepid International Space Station Challenge, in which NYC public middle schools competed for a chance to send their microgravity projects to the International Space Station.
With Rona, the Museum held a special ceremony on April 27, 2015, dedicating the Enterprise Space Shuttle to all those men and women lost in the American space program.
Major General Charles F. Bolden, Jr., USMC (Ret), 12th NASA administrator and an Intrepid trustee, said, “My wife Jackie and I join the Intrepid family, as well as friends around the world, in mourning the passing of our friend and a champion to so many others, Mrs. Rona Ramon. Though she will be missed, we will work to cement her legacy of advancing academic excellence and social leadership through continued support of the Ramon Foundation.”
Mike Massimino, a former NASA astronaut and the senior advisor of space programs at the Intrepid Museum, said, “Rona was a wonderful friend and an exceptional human being. After losing Ilan and Asaf, she continued to honor their memory though the Ramon Foundation by helping others though educational opportunities and philanthropy. We all now must do our best to help continue their work and honor their memories.”
Susan Marenoff-Zausner, Museum president, said, “Rona’s ability to channel tragedy into hope through meaningful, impactful and important initiatives is an inspiration to us all. We are committed to perpetuating her legacy here at the Museum.”
