Capt. Eugene A. Cernan

Eugene “Gene,” son of Andrew Cernan and Rose (Cihlar) Cernan, was born of Czech and Slovak descent on the 14th of March 1934, in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Proviso East High School in Maywood and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University in 1956 where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. After graduating from Purdue, Gene attended Navy flight training and became a Naval Aviator. He earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, in Monterey, California. Gene logged more than 5000 hours of flying time and over 200 carrier landings in his Navy career. In October of 1963, he was selected among the third group of astronauts by NASA.

Gene’s NASA career included Gemini IX where he was the 2nd American to have walked in space; Apollo X, which flew within eight nautical miles of the lunar surface; and Apollo XVII, on which he was the Commander and last man to leave his footprints on the moon. Gene was one of two men to have flown to the moon twice and one of only 12 men to have walked on the lunar surface.

In 1976, Gene retired from the Navy and left NASA to pursue a career in the Energy and Aerospace industries. He started his own consulting firm, The Cernan Corporation, in 1981. He was actively involved as a co-anchorman on ABC-TV’s presentation of the shuttle flights, represented Bombardier Aerospace, and was an Ambassador of OMEGA Watch Group. Gene has received numerous Honorary Doctorates and awards, but being enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame, receiving the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy and most recently, the National Aviation Hall of Fame Neil Armstrong Award, are on the top of the list. He was active in many professional societies such as the “Golden Eagles,” he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, and the President’s Engineering Council Purdue University.

The personal Gene was a Naval Aviator full of “speed, dynamite and deception” as he often described himself. He had a passion for flying, often too low, but none the less he loved it. He would fly his Cessna 421 every opportunity he had to his ranch in Kerrville. His ranch was his retreat. He loved to ride horses, work with his longhorn cows, hunt and fish, or just have a glass of wine on the porch while watching the sunset and the moon rise. But most of all he just loved being there with his family, friends and his dog, Duke, by his side.

Gene was a humble man. He often wondered “why me” when thinking how he became the last man on the moon. He was passionate about space travel and how important it is to our country and our young children and he enjoyed sharing his experiences. Gene spoke countless times to young children telling them to “always do your best” and “shoot for the moon” encouraging them that they can do anything they put their minds to. In 1999, Gene wrote a heartfelt book, “The Last Man on The Moon,” reflecting his personal life and experiences. In 2016, the movie “The Last Man on The Moon,” was released to tell the story of Eugene Cernan, an ordinary young boy from humble beginnings that became an astronaut. “If I can achieve this, what can’t you do?” Gene truly lived the American dream.

Gene, Daddy, or Popie, whichever name you choose to use for this man, he was a special friend, father and grandfather. He will always be loved and we appreciate the legacy he has left us. He is survived by his wife, Jan Nanna Cernan; his daughter, Teresa “Tracy” Woolie and her husband, Marion; step-daughters, Kelly Nanna Taff and her husband Michael, and Danielle Nanna Ellis; his grandchildren, Ashley Woolie Hunt and her husband Adam, Katelyn and Whitney Woolie; Carson, Kaylee, Madison and Jackson Taff, and Jordan and Caroline Ellis; his sister, Dolores Riley of Bremerton, Washington; his former wife, Barbara Cernan Butler; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother in law, James Riley.

The family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses, and therapists at Methodist Hospital, Dr. Muffaddal Morkas, Dr. Harold Condera, Dr. Josef Schmid, and the special caregivers that were by his side. He was a determined fighter who never gave up and all of you were a constant encouragement to him.

Friends are cordially invited to greet the family during a visitation and reception to be held from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 23rd of January, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The funeral service is to be conducted at half-past two o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 24th of January, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr. is to officiate.

At a later date the family will gather for a private interment at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, where full military honors will be rendered.

In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Capt. Cernan's name be directed to Purdue University Libraries, ADV #267A, Attn: Kathryn Dilworth, 504 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2058. (Checks may be made out to "Purdue Foundation"); to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Inc., 1750 Radford Blvd., Suite B, NAS Pensacola, FL, 32508; or to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, Mail Code ASF 1, Kennedy Space Center, FL. 32899; or to the charity of one’s choice.

Gene/Daddy/Popie, you always said you “sat on God’s front porch” when you went to the moon, I know now you are enjoying the entire house of the Lord. We love you and you will be greatly missed, but we will meet again one day.