As a boy I’d watched the Saturn V rockets take off and dreamed of someday working in space, and the Space Shuttle program had excited me from the moment I’d read about it in ’76. When I saw the Challenger explode I of course was sad for the loss of life, but my main concern was about the setback to the Shuttle program.

Two days later, driving through Lynn, I heard on the radio that among the other astronauts on board was Dr. Judy Resnick, and instantly tears filled my eyes such that I could not see the road in front of me and had to pull over before I caused an accident. You see, she was my hero, from what little I knew of her. She and a friend had breezed through school and college, picking courses and directions that seemed to magically lead to life as an astronaut in NASA in much the same way I’d always hoped my life would go. No force, no strain, just directing her abundant energy to the fulfillment of her desires.

At times I have a very dark sense of humor, but those jokes never provoked any reaction, positive or negative, within me. I just always warmly remembered a beautiful, vibrant woman who lived her life by her own lights, and who to this day still holds a light for me to follow as well.

God bless you, Judy. Peace be with you.