Charles Hannon

Cocoa Beach Charles Patrick Hannon, 82, died on January 27, at Cape Canaveral Hospital, after a sudden heart attack. He had been a resident of Cocoa Beach for 56 years. A retired aeronautical engineer, he worked for the space industry for more than four decades. His career began with Republic Aviation, on Long Island, NY, and then he joined the emerging rocket-development program at North American Aviation, in Downey, Calif. He moved with North American to Cape Canaveral as a flight-test engineer, first on the Navajo and Hound Dog rockets and later on Apollo and Sky Lab. After retiring from North American (then Rockwell), he continued his work as a Launch Director for the shuttle program with Lockheed for several years. Mr. Hannon attended grade school in Belleville, NJ, graduating high school in 1945. He went on to study aeronautics at Stevens Institute, in Hoboken, N.J. His college career was cut short, when his Navy V-5 unit was called up to serve in the Naval Air Force in the closing days of World War II. After his discharge from the service, he studied engineering at the University of Alabama, where he earned his degree. On graduating, he was once again called to serve his country, this time to fulfill his commitment to R.O.T.C., as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. His stint with the Air Force proved providential, broadening his electronics and engineering background and stationing him at Patrick Air Force Base just when America’s adventure in space exploration was being born, an adventure to which he would happily devote his life. Mr. Hannon is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; sister, Evelyn Hannon; sons: Charles and wife Patricia; William; and James and wife Marie; and one daughter Clare-Marie; plus grandchildren Kerry and Emily Hannon, Patrick and Avery Grace Hannon; and Meghan Hannon; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Viewing will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, January 31, at Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home in Cocoa Beach. A funeral mass will be held at Our Savior’s Catholic Church, 5301 North Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach, on Tuesday, February 1, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul at Our Saviors Catholic Church. You may sign the guestbook at www.beckman-williamson