[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11682]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF NORMAN BUCHERT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TED LIEU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 15, 2015

  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor the 
life and legacy of Mr. Norman Buchert, a loving family man and 
successful engineer. Upon graduating from the University of Florida, 
Norman began working in a nascent aerospace industry at the Kennedy 
Space Center, contributing to the development of the Apollo 11 launch 
and other space shuttle launches. Throughout his life he loved to tell 
stories about his time working in the space program.
  While Norman's career as an engineer is remarkable, his role as a 
loving family man is what he will be remembered for most. I have had 
the privilege of working closely with his daughter, Genelle, who truly 
embodies his caring spirit. He has left a positive mark on our world 
and that his legacy will live on through his family.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleagues will join with me in honoring 
the life of this special man. We should all be so fortunate to live 
such a full life. I submit his obituary:

       Norman Charles Buchert was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 
     13, 1942. He graduated from Port St. Joe High School, Port 
     St. Joe, Florida; and from the University of Florida with a 
     BS and MS in Electrical Engineering.
       His career began at Kennedy Space Center on January 27th, 
     1967 with North American Aviation (NAA) as an RF and 
     Telemetry Engineer working on the Apollo/Saturn Launch 
     Vehicle second stage. He then worked on the Saturn V moon 
     launches including the Apollo II launch to the moon (and 
     back) and worked in the Saturn V Launch Control Center Firing 
     room at the RF and Telemetry console. He later transferred to 
     the Apollo Command and Service Module (CSM) organization to 
     work on the experiments that the CSM carried to the moon and 
     the Lunar Sounder experiment searching for water on the moon. 
     Their first daughter, Genelle, was born shortly after man's 
     first walk on the moon. Twenty two months later their second 
     daughter, Charisse, was born.
       In 1972, he began work as a Space Shuttle design 
     integration engineer in Downey, California for NAA. In 1975, 
     their third daughter, Felicia, was born. That same year he 
     transferred back to KSC to help design, manufacture and 
     install the Orbiter Processing Facility Communications and 
     Tracking checkout station. In 1984, they welcomed their 
     youngest daughter, April. Promoted to Supervisor of the NAA 
     Communications and Tracking group, he supervised the checkout 
     of the first Shuttle launch Orbiter Communications and 
     Navaids Systems eventually becoming the Director of Advanced 
     Programs and Business Development for Rockwell (formerly NAA) 
     at KSC. After Boeing purchased the Space Division portion of 
     Rockwell in 1996, Norman became the Director of Advanced 
     Engineering for the Space Shuttle Program finishing his 
     career in this capacity. Norman received many awards and 
     recognitions including the Astronaut Snoopy award for his 
     work on the Apollo Program presented by Apollo astronaut, 
     Hank Hartsfield.
       Norman worked for Boeing for over 44 years; was an avid 
     University of Florida Gator sports fan; enjoyed talking about 
     his experiences in the space program as a KSC docent; was 
     active in his church; was a doting grandfather, and devoted 
     owner of his prized mutt, Mars Rover.
       He is survived by Carol, his wife of 47 years, daughters, 
     Genelle Buchert, Charisse Buchert, Felicia Kai (Sam) and 
     April Walters (Cameron); brother Jerry Buchert (Laurie), 
     sisters, Margie Vogt (Jim) and Carole Pille (Skip), half 
     sister Chris Haley (Pat) and step sister Marlene Guerrieri 
     (Bruno); beloved grandchildren Annabella Kai, Graciella Kai 
     and Serenity Kai (with a fourth grandchild in progress) and 
     many nieces and nephews.
       Norman was welcomed into Heaven on May 9, 2015, after a 
     brave and courageous battle with cancer. He was preceded in 
     death by his father Robert Valentine Buchert and mothers, 
     Erline Buchert and Norma Riester Boehl. He will be in our 
     hearts always.

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