Joan Ann Aldrin

In 1969 Nasa’s Apollo 11 space flight made history by putting the first men on the moon. The whole world watched in wonder as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin sent back the first images from another celestial body. The story of Joan Aldrin follows behind the scenes of this historic event. Following her husband’s return to earth the whole world celebrated. Joan was a very special witness and participant in history, adding her inimitable grace and humility to events that will be remembered for decades to come.

Joan Ann Aldrin (Archer) was born to Michael Archer and C. Evelyn Cleminshaw on December 5, 1930 in Paterson, New Jersey. She was the only child of a Canadian mother and a second-generation Italian father. Despite the fact that she was raised during the Great Depression, her family lived a mostly normal middle class life.

In her early years Joan discovered her love of the theatre. She graduated from Rutgers University in 1951 with a degree in Dramatic Arts, and went on to earn a Master of Arts in Theatrical Arts from Columbia University in 1953. Throughout high school and college, Joan acted in countless productions, including five seasons of summer stock theatre. After school, she carried on acting in community theatre and went on to help found the Clear Creek Country Theatre outside Houston, Texas. Continuing to pursue her passion for the stage until her last days, she directed a play reading group at her retirement home.

Participating in the Theatre prepared Joan for her real life drama that was yet to come as a famous astronaut’s wife. She fell in love, and married Buzz Aldrin in 1954 in Paterson, New Jersey. With the birth of their three children, Joan gracefully managed to keep everyone grounded in their down to earth family values while Buzz was preoccupied with the Air Force, fighting in the Korean war, writing his doctorate at MIT, and flying two manned NASA spaceflight missions, including the first walk on the moon.

During that historic time of the Space Race, Joan was an iconic figure of poise, charm, and humility for Buzz, as well as America. The subsequent Apollo 11 World Tour and relentless media frenzy was a true test of character for Joan. She became the representative of a true heroic American wife dedicated to her husband and country. These exemplary qualities remained with her through the years of international recognition, and unbridled media scrutiny for the rest of her life.

Following her divorce from Buzz, Joan took an administrative job at ABC television where she rose to a management position suiting her talents, and finally retired in 1998.

Throughout her life, Joan always maintained her wonderful, wry sense of humor and bright outlook no matter how difficult her situation was. She lived a humble, modest life and continued friendships with other wives of astronauts until her dying day. Joan had time to reflect on her life at the apex of world history, and kept journals describing in great detail her feelings about the whirlwind of unique experiences in which she participated.

Joan died from natural causes after a long illness on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 in Ventura, California. She died peacefully with grace just as she lived her life.

Joan is survived by her three children, James Michael Aldrin, Janice Ross Aldrin, and Andrew John Aldrin; grandson, Jeffrey Michael Schuss, and great grandchildren, Nathaniel Walter Schuss and Benjamin Philip Aldrin Schuss.

For those wishing to honor Joan, the family suggests a donation to the American Lung Association.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com