Melvin S. Gardner

Major Melvin S. Gardner, USAF Ret., had the right stuff and trained Gemini and Apollo astronauts. He helped to kick start the US space program, then lived a relatively quiet life in his later years, never bragging about his early adventures in the late 1950's early 60s.

Before retiring from the Air Force in 1976, Mel faithfully served his country for twenty two years, making his debut as a pioneer in early space flight exploration and guarding our national security throughout the Vietnam era.

Bravely confronting his last big challenge, this time with Parkinson's disease, Mel died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 73.

Born in 1933 to parents Alfred and Jeanette Gardner, Mel spent most of his childhood years in Phoenix, AZ, when the city was still a fairly small western outpost.

A graduate of Arizona State University, he decided early to pursue a military career and joined the Air Force, then a fledgling service.

His second tour of duty found him on special duty assignment at the Wright Patterson AFB, OH, Experimental Test Lab, where he was placed in a cutting edge job experimenting with weightless environments in support of upcoming manned space launches.

He assisted in the development of what is now called the "vomit comet" an aircraft maneuver that simulates Zero G for 60 seconds.

His pioneering research was published in a classic book entitled, Weightlessness—Physical Phenomena and Biological Effects. Not satisfied to let others take risks, Mel at one time logged more weightless time than any other person. In fact, he was the first person to sleep in a weightless environment.

Mel trained both Gemini and Apollo astronauts in Zero G, including John Glenn, Alan Sheppard and Ed White. Walter Cronkite once called Mel America's "young daredevil."

The list of his achievements reads like a fictional adventure. He invented the first extravehicular propulsion system, designed Zero G tools, and initiated critical studies on liquids in outer space.

He was a test pilot for the initial jet backpack of James Bond fame and manned several prototypes of military hovercraft.

Crisscrossing the country, Mel provided briefings at assorted venues and became so popular that he rated an article in Newsweek magazine and mention in several men's magazines of the day!.

Later in his Air Force career, Mel was a configuration management specialist and human factors expert at various locations.

After his Air Force retirement, Mel continued to work for the Department of Defense as a government contractor with his home base in Potomac, MD. During this time, Mel was diagnosed with throat cancer which he successfully beat after many years of radiation and surgery. Having lost his larynx, Mel continued to stay involved in the community, volunteering to assist the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum sort and catalogue valuable artifacts surrounding the early space exploration era. His inventions are displayed at the Smithsonian and the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

Even without vocal cords, Mel taught himself how to speak again and taught others English as a second language. In his later years, Mel exhibited an innate talent as a master woodworker and expert photographer. In between these activities, he could usually be found reading, one of his favorite pastimes.

A devoted husband to his wife, Lilly, for 47 years, Mel was the consummate family man and generous to a fault. He will be dearly missed.

Maj. Melvin S. Gardner US Air Forces Ret. of San Antonio, TX, age 73 passed away Friday, December 8, 2006. He was born in Bronx, New York on May, 16, 1933 Melvin was preceded in death by his father, Alfred Gardner, Mother, Jeanette Gardner and brother, Jerry Gardner. Melvin is survived by His wife, Lilly B. Gardner, whom he married in 1959; children Jeffrey S. Gardner of San Antonio, TX and Ann J Larry of Gaithersburg, MD; Grandchildren Kristofer F. Padilla, Goodyear, AZ and Michael L. Turner, Federal Way, WA.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to; Hospice, 401 Bowling Ave., Nashville, TN 37205.