Leon Richard Patrick Migdalski

Leon was our Common Sense Logic problem solver. Our Thinker. Our scientist, philosopher, list maker, engineer of many home projects for family and friends. A generous, gentle man with a huge heart. He had an uncanny ability to break a problem down to a solution that was the correct one.

Leon is survived by his Wife of 65 years Elizabeth J Migdalski. His Sons David, Steven and Brian Migdalski of Titusville, Florida. His sister Frances Jean Migdalski Naujokas of Davie Florida. Deceased sister Caroline Julia Migdalski Sokoloski. Also survived by four Grandchildren , nine Great Grandchildren and 6 Great Great Grandchildren. Preceded in death by one Grandchild and one Great Grandchild.

Leon received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Degree (BSEE) from the University of Miami in January, 1963, and his Master of Science in Management Degree (MSM) from Rollins College, Winter Park, FL in June, 1977.

Leon held several rewarding engineering jobs until retired in 1999. He never lost a day of work and very fortunate to remain in Titusville for 58 years. Engineers tend to move around the country following jobs.

In 1963 his first job was with the Douglas Aircraft Co. ( now McDonnell Douglas ) at Cape Canaveral on the Redstone Rocket doing support work in the test equipment area. That only lasted 2 months as they lost a missile contract. But that worked out ok because the next day he started work for GE at Cape Canaveral / Patrick Air Force Base near Cocoa Beach for the Radio Guidance System used on the Atlas Rockets that launched the 7 Astronauts in Mercury Capsules.

Leon was the engineer in charge of 4 technicians and their responsibility was to help calibrate that Atlas Radio Guidance System. They did this using an AFC-131 aircraft where they flew 3 guidance beacons to simulate the Atlas for the ground guidance system at the Cape before each launch. Leon had Quite an experience watching the missile launches from the aircraft. To qualify to fly in the AF C-131 they had to train in the High Altitude simulator to experience blackout and also had to pass the water ditching survival training. At Patrick AFB they designed a small building of about 30' x 30' where our C-131 parked. In it the office had a test lab that was cabled to the parked C-131 via cables & waveguide supported by a 100’ antenna tower laid on its side and pivoted at one end.

In 1965 Leon worked for GE in Huntsville, Alabama for 6 Months on a special assignment to help test the control room consoles that would be used for Apollo / Saturn launches. The family traveled with him and were able to enjoy many local side trips.

In 1968 when those programs ended Leon transferred to GE at the Kennedy Space Center to work on the Apollo Saturn moon program. This was on the Apollo Automatic Checkout Equipment. He was the engineer for one of the 5 computer complexes they used.

After the moon landing in 1969 there were almost 10,000 folks laid off during the next year. Unfortunately he was one of them. Fortunately he got a job the next day with the NAVY in Orlando at the Naval Training Systems Center in Orlando, FL. This started a 30 year career as a Civil Servant. Leon worked for 18 years on Training Systems for every possible system used for the defense of the USA. Aircraft, Surface Ships, Submarines and all their associated support needed on the ground. His main responsibilities were in the Reliability, Maintainability disciplines and any support needed to keep these complex trainers in operation for many years. Leon's responsibilities required many trips to bases around the country. This gave a great opportunity to take the family on vacations when possible.

In 1988 Leon decided to return to the space program at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) with NASA where he worked on the Space Shuttle ground support systems until retirement in 1999. Leon contributed to the Reliability, Maintainability, Systems Assurance and Safety areas when NASA decided to recertify all their systems after the Challenger accident.

Also of note is Leon receiving the prestigious "Snoopy Award" in 1989. This award is presented to only 1 in 100 NASA employees for their contribution to the Space Program. The Award was presented by Astronaut Carl E. Walz.

After retiring in October 1999 Leon was asked to join a 5 member team to do a one week audit of NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. He was responsible for the Reliability & Maintainability assessment of the Center. The team lead was Gene Thomas, the Apollo 13 Launch Director at KSC.

Leon Migdalski had a very rewarding work experience in many exciting areas supporting all the endeavors our nation pursued in space and national defense.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and great great grandfather. He will, without a doubt, be missed by all who knew him.