Willy Ley fundraiser
Hi all - yesterday I learned from a co-worker about a gofundme relating to Willy Ley. As a short intro, Willy Ley was a famous science writer and futurist in the area of rocketry, and knew people like Werner von Braun - his bio is well worth looking into. Well, fast forward - my co-worker is close friends with Dawn Nadeau, head of a co-op board in NYC, whose building super came across Willy Ley's ashes while cleaning out the basement storage in her building. Yes, it's odd. Dawn started to do research into Willy Ley (who was he? she did not know, then) and is now advocating to honor Willy Ley in a number of ways, e.g., launch his ashes into space, set up a scholarship. If interested generally (not just for donations) please see this link, which will lead to other fun information about Willy Ley, including the NY Times article about the discovery in Dawn's building:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-willy-leys-space-legacy
It's a pretty neat story and I think it would be cool to get this circulating in rocketry clubs.
Thanks albeit it's too bad I can't read The NY Times article
I got to it ok. Interesting story of a forgotten key player in space history. He deserves to go to space.
Maybe this direct link will work? https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/nyregion/willy-ley-rocket-ashes.html?unlocked_article_code=1.BU8.i9fh.U2EjpQdyoxno&smid=url-share
In a little bit I'll try and post this on The Rocketry Forum. Plenty of interested people on there.
I reposted this on the TRF and also the NAR forums. Might generate some more interest.
Thanks Eric - sorry about the link, sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.
There is a decent Wiki on him as well. I like learning about the history - my dad was stationed at White Sands Missile Range for several years (my first New Mexico connection).