Sept. 4, 1930 — Nov. 27, 2024
Donald Richard Montgomery passed peacefully on Nov. 27, 2024, aged 94, at his home in Ashland, Oregon. He was born Sept. 4, 1930, to William Hez Montgomery and Harriet Nies Montgomery in Pasadena, California.
He graduated high school at Pasadena Junior College and earned a degree in electrical engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. After college and a stint with the Naval Reserve, Don began a long and impressive career in aerospace, starting at the Navy Electronics Lab, then Bendix Corp. and, in 1962, was contracted to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory through CalTech.
At JPL he became engineering group supervisor in the lunar and planetary instruments section, Space Science Division. He was lead developer of the cameras for the Surveyor spacecraft program, which mapped the lunar surface in preparation for the Apollo missions. He also developed cameras for the Mariner Mars fly-by program before heading to NASA headquarters in Washington D.C. to work on the SeaSat Oceanographic Satellite program.
He later became Director of Ocean Services at NOAA, and he authored several articles and co-authored a book about the Surveyor spacecraft. His work took him around the world, from Kenya, Australia and the South Pacific, to the arctic regions of Iceland, Greenland and Norway.
In 1953 Don married his college sweetheart, June Waterbury. They settled in Altadena and raised their three children. Don later married Lynn Michaels, whom he was with for over 45 years. After a period living in the Washington D.C. suburbs, the couple retired to Ashland and built their dream home.
If something made a loud bang: fireworks, rockets or rifles, then Don loved it. He appreciated all things mechanical or electrical, especially vintage cars and ham radio. He had an affinity for agriculture which he inherited from his Texan relatives. He even owned a pepper farm in Arizona for a time, and helped his cousin raise sheep in Chino.
Don played trumpet from childhood until his final years. He was drum major at Cal Poly SLO and played in various jazz bands throughout his life. One of his greatest pleasures was fishing with his kids. A family fishing trip to June Lake took place annually for almost 50 years.
He had a great sense of fun and everyone enjoyed being around him. He was warm-hearted and charming, intelligent and often mischievous. Don was very easy to love by all who knew him.
Don is survived by his beloved wife Lynn; his children, Bill Montgomery, Bob Montgomery and Laura Montgomery Waag; his grandchildren, Erica Pitney and Kyle Montgomery; and his step-children, Jennifer Trotoux and David Minasian.
He also leaves behind four great-grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, and many devoted friends, who along with his family will miss him very much.
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