- Date Of Birth: August 9, 1927
- Date Of Death: January 17, 2016
- State: Florida
John James Neilon, 88, died January 17 after a long period of declining health. He was born in Lawrence Mass on August 9, 1927. He is preceded in death by his parents Mary Murphy Neilon and William Neilon,his brothers William, Francis and James and an infant son.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Patricia Joanne Neilon, who was the love of his life, his daughter Patricia and husband Craig Piepmeier, and grandchildren Logan Piepmeier and Aubree Piepmeier.
In 1944 he graduated from Manchester West High School in Manchester, New Hampshire, then served in the US Navy from 1945 through 1946. He graduated from St. Anselm College with a math degree.
He began his lifelong career in space exploration at the US Naval Research Lab in Washington, worked on the Vanguard Program, Delta, Atlas-Agena, Thor-Agena, Atlas Centaur, and Titan Centaur at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg AFB. In 1970, he became NASA’s Director of Unmanned Launch Programs, and he served as the Director of Payload Operations for the Shuttle Program from 1976 until his retirement in 1986.
He will be remembered for his wit, intelligence, love of his family and friends, his country, tennis and animals.
The family thanks the CCH 4th floor staff, ICU and Hospice for their compassionate and professional care. Thankyou also to David Baron for providing in-home daily care and for his upbeat attitude over the last several months.
JAN 22.
