Richard T. Gedney's Obituary
Dr. Richard T. Gedney, 88, of Avon, OH, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.
Richard grew up in Greenville, a rural town in upstate New York. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Columbia University, where he received Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering. As a young engineer, he had the privilege of working for NASA in the Mercury Program, a crucial first step in demonstrating US space flight capabilities during the space race against the Soviet Union.
In his late twenties, Richard moved to Cleveland, OH to pursue a doctorate degree at Case Western University. Here, he continued his work at the NASA Glenn Research Center on their Arctic Ice Mapping Project. Later, Richard became Project Manager for NASA’s Advanced Communication Satellite Program (ACTS). The innovative design of ACTS revolutionized high-speed satellite communications and became a test bed for a new generation of sophisticated global communications satellites. Upon retiring from NASA, Richard worked for Efficient Channel Coding, Inc., a startup that was later purchased by ViaSat, Inc., a communications company that operates a constellation of satellites for high-speed broadband services. Richard ended his career by co-chairing an international satellite conference for many years.
Later in life, Richard followed his dream and purchased “At Long Last,” a 30ft sailboat, and spent weekends sailing Lake Erie with his family. A seasoned traveler, he enjoyed biking across Europe and carving up the ski slopes in Vermont. Richard is survived by his beloved wife, Marion Gedney. He was the son of William and Violet Gedney, brother to William, and the father of Susan Bereck (David) and Richard Gedney (Alicia). His six grandchildren, Richard, Michael, Luke, Louise, Mark, and William, were his pride and joy. A memorial service will be held in July at Sunset Memorial Chapel in his honor.
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