Obituary of Roger L. Pierce

I, Roger L. Pierce passed away on Sunday, September 29, 1019. No one is more surprised than myself as I was expecting many more years to explore the world and chase some dreams. I am survived by my brothers John and Norman Pierce, my sister-in-law Mary Elizabeth Pierce, my nieces Jessica and Deborah Pierce, my step-aunts Laura True and Sharon Moreau, and my cat Squirt. I am preceded to the other side by my parents Dorothy Maines Pierce Pratt and John T. Pierce, my step-father George H. Pratt, my grandparents and my cats Jasper and Isabella. I was born and raised in Winter Park, Florida. I had a magical childhood and I consider growing up in Central Florida at the start of the Disney boom to have been a blessing. I attended Lakemont and Dommerich Elementary Schools, Maitland Junior High and Winter Park High School. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida in 1982 and a Master’s of Science in Computer Science from Florida Institute of Technology in 1991. I started work for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center in 1982 and was selected as the first KSC engineer to attend the International Space University (ISU) held in Strasbourg, France in 1989. ISU changed my life in many positive ways and led to visits to Toronto, Moscow and Kitakyshu, Japan. I reconnected with ISU in 2012 when the Space Studies Program was held in Melbourne, Florida. I sponsored various ISU trinkets and swag over the past four years. I crossed over with few regrets, I had a loving circle of family and friends. I worked at the coolest place on earth with amazing and talented coworkers. I had my fair share of adventures and travel. I enjoyed going out to the movies, reading science fiction and fantasy adventure books and dining out with friends. On the other side, I am currently pestering all of my deceased relatives for their life stories, laughing and joking with Shirley, Gabi, Rhett and Dave and working hard to finish my guardian angel degree in record time, top of my class. I have never feared crossing over, a gift from my mother on her passing. I would like to close with simple words. Take care of each other! And be happy! In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the following; Morla Milne Memorial Scholarship Fund, International Space University, 1 rue Jean-Dominique Cassini, 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France A memorial service is planned for 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 20th at Cocoa Beach Community Church, 126 S. Atlantic Avenue in Cocoa Beach.