Robert J. McWade

Sadly on June 15, 2012 Bob lost his second battle with cancer. Robert John McWade was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Jack and Mildred and lived in a suburb of Philadelphia during his youth and early adult years. Bob attended Villanova University where he earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering. In his later years he earned his MBA degree from Pepperdine University.

Bob started his career working at Computer Peripherals, Inc. as a Senior Mechanical Engineer from 1969-1976, and then at The Franklin Mint as a Project Manager from 1976-1978. Pertec Computer Company recruited him in 1978 to be a manager of Mechanical Engineering, relocating his family to Simi Valley, California. After Pertec closed, Bob worked for Seagate before joining Rocketdyne in 1989. Working over 23 years in design and technical leadership on the Space Shuttle main engine, he was the lead engineer for Space Shuttle Main Engineer Actuators and Valves. Bob was the recipient of the Jack Weil Award in 2000 and NASA's prestigious Silver Snoopy Award. He retired from Pratt & Whitney, Rocketdyne upon completion of the Space Shuttle program in 2011.

His fellow employees loved him for his humor and winning personality. He was respected for his technical expertise, which was evident in the awards that he received. Bob was the greatest of friends. His cheerful nature, positive outlook, and quick wit made him a joy to be around and earned him countless friends and fans. He also had a great love and compassion for animals. He had many pets through the years, but the last two, his "Wiener" dogs, were one of the loves of his life.

Bob is survived by his two daughters, Meredith McWade and Allison McDonnell, and his beloved and devoted companion Katja Hockenberg.

Services will be held on Wednesday, June 20 at 10:00 AM at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, located on Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village. A reception will follow at his home in Simi Valley. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to the Bob McWade Memorial Fund, to purchase a memorial tile for the Endeavour Space Shuttle, which will be located at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Donations should be sent to the Bob McWade Memorial Fund, c/o Scott Trammell, 257 Tennyson Street, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.