Alan Michael Rochford

Alan M. Rochford, age 88, passed away Saturday, the 23rd of August 2025 at home in Cypress, Texas. He was born in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, where he attended Catholic grade schools and was an altar boy.

Since Alan’s dad was in the military, the family lived in France and Germany. Alan attended one year at the University of Maryland Branch in Munich, Germany, before deciding to return stateside to join the navy and become a corpsman. Upon his honorable discharge after four years, he started a great career with NASA as a spacesuit technician.

Alan supported Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Shuttle and Soyuz Missions. He received numerous awards for his outstanding contributions to the Space Program. He retired after 41 years in December of 1997.

Alan was always active. He was a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Christopher’s Church in Houston, and upon moving to Galveston became Sacristan of Mary Star of the Sea on Galveston’s West End. He was President of his Civic Club, a Real Estate Broker, a 4th degree knight and active in the Knights of Columbus Council 9978 in Galveston. Alan also traveled the United States, Canada and Alaska with his wife in their motorhome.

Alan leaves behind his loving wife of 63 years, Alice; son, Tom; daughter, Lisa Cookson; brothers, Michael and wife Peggy, Denis and wife Martha; sisters, Rita Della Contrada and Nancy Vecchio and husband Bob; as well as five grandchildren, Brandon Darnell, Spencer and Presley Cookson, and Justin and Lauren Rochford.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 4 o’clock in the afternoon until half past six o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 9th of September in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Son, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where the eulogy and recitation of the Holy Rosary is to commence at half past five o’clock in the evening.

A Mass of Christian Burial is to be offered at half past ten o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 10th of September at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road, where the Rev. Bart Reynolds is to officiate.

For those unable to attend the visitation or service in-person, virtual attendance may be accessed by selecting the "Join Livestream" icon in the services section below.

The Rite of Committal is to follow, via an escorted cortege, at Houston National Cemetery in Houston.

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