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The Legacy of George R. Faenza
George R. Faenza devoted his life to his family, helping children, promoting education and literacy, contributing to his community, and furthering space exploration. The Society of Performers, Artists, Athletes, and Celebrities for Space Exploration (SPAACSE, Inc.) formed the $1000 George R. Faenza Scholarship in 1998 to honor his outstanding contributions to space and education, as well as his commitment to SPAACSE as an Advisor.
George served as Chairman of the Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Save Our Space Station Committee. He helped sponsor groups of students to visit Washington, D.C. in order to educate members of how the U.S. government works while giving them the chance to express their views and ideas concerning America's future in space. George saw these educational trips as a means to inspire students and to let their ideas be heard by our nation's leaders. His legacy of listening to the younger generation's ideas and encouraging their input at a national level continues. Today, these student trips are a part of the George R. Faenza Scholarship award.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio George served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950-1953. He earned his degree in Electrical/Electronics engineering from the University of Miami in 1959, then joined the McDonnell Douglas Corporation (now Boeing) that same year. While working as a design engineer at the Huntington Beach plant, he worked on programs such as the Nike Hercules and Sky Bolt program, managed vehicle flight readiness, and served as chief test conductor on the Saturn IV and IVB programs. Moving to the Florida site, he managed Saturn/Apollo and Skylab Orbital Workshop testing activities from 1967-1973, and in 1975, became the program manager for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. From 1976 to 1996 George directed the McDonnell Douglas division responsible for ground processing of all major payloads. He served as McDonnell Douglas Space and Defense Systems Vice President and General Manager for the Kennedy Space Center division until his retirement in 1996. His many significant contributions to the Apollo, Skylab-Soyuz, space shuttle, and space station programs culminated in three NASA public service medals, and NASA's highest level of recognition, The Distinguished Public Service Medal in 1993 and again in 1997.
George gave as much to his community as he did to space exploration. He was a founding member of the Aerospace Education Coalition and the U.S. Space Walk of Fame. He served as a Charter Member of the National Space Club, Florida Committee, and U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Advisory Board. He served as Director of the Astronaut Memorial Foundation, the Institute of Space Science and Technology, the Florida Institute of Technology Corporation Board, The Spaccce Coast Science Center Board, and the Wuesthoff Hospital Foundation Board. He was Chairman of the annual Space Congress in Cocoa Beach, the Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Save Our Human Space Programs Committee, Junior Achievement, Florida Public Relations Corporate spelling Bee for Literacy, and the Brevard County U.S. Savings Bond Campaign.
His memberships included the Florida Chamber Foundation Committee on Education, Civ-Mil, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Space Camp Advisory Council, Florida Sterling Club, the Rollins Economic Development Commission, the Governor's Commission on Space, and the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation. His community awards included induction as a Laureate in the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame, the Kurt H. Debus award for his significant contributions to the nation's space program and active participation in the community activities, and the 1997 Distinguished Service Award from the Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce for his many significant contributions to the community and our nation's space program.
George's legacy of fostering education and community service is carried on by his wife Rebecca, his five children: Victor Faenza, George Faenza, Jr., Raymond Faenza, Chip Greek, and Christopher Faenza, and his four grandchildren.
