Jim Busby

James Busby Passes Away, File770
“Space flight historian James Milton Busby died June 1 after a lengthy hospitalization. He was 61 years old, and had suffered many health problems in recent years. He is survived by his wife, Arlene, a longtime LASFS member. They married in 2012. James volunteered and consulted with the California Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles on the 1980 redesign of their aerospace museum. He was hired in 1984 as a museum assistant and was employed there until 2003. The museum awarded James with an Honorary Doctorate degree of Space Science Information.”
Keith’s note: I knew Jim since – I dunno – 30+ years ago. He was such a sweet guy. We are very, very close in age so this hits home very hard. I used to work at Rockwell Downey so he and I regularly interacted over the years. The last time I saw Jim was several years ago. I was asked to be a speaker at the opening of the Columbia Memorial Space Center – a Challenger Learning Center – located on the old Rockwell Downey lot. As it happens the place I stood to speak is where I used to park my car. Jim was in his element as they worked through preserving things from the glory days at Downey. Whatever does remain from that place – from that time – is due in great part to Jim’s un-wavering dedication. Jim was the space cadet’s space cadet. They just don’t make people like him any more. Oh yes – he plays that Grumman guy tapping his pencil in episode 5 of “From the Earth to the Moon.” He just oozed space. Ad Astra, Jim.