Rona Ramon
Rona Ramon, Widow of Israel’s First Astronaut Ilan Ramon, Dies at 54, Haaretz
“Rona Ramon, the widow of Israel’s first and only astronaut, died of pancreatic cancer Monday at age 54. Ramon’s husband, Ilan Ramon, was a crew member on America’s 2003 Columbia space shuttle mission when the spacecraft blew up, killing all on board. Rona Ramon later lost her son Asaf, an Israel Air Force fighter pilot, in a training accident. She subsequently established the Ramon Foundation to promote academic excellence and social leadership among Israel’s young people.”
Columbia: Thinking Back – Looking Ahead, New Moon Rising
“From the an event held on the one year anniversary of Columbia’s loss at the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC: “At the end of the event, Rona Ramon, Ilan’s widow, spoke last. “Our mission in space is not over” she told the hushed audience. “He was the first Israeli in space — that means there will be more.”
My Condolences to her family and friends. How sad.
Deepest sympathies to her family & friends. Her quote about her husband being the first before more to come stuck in my head for all these years.
A number of people close to me succumbed to pancreatic cancer; definitely not an easy road. Sad indeed.
My condolences as well. My mother also died this year, so I think I know what her relatives are going through and they have all the sympathies I can offer.
But I am also going to be a bit of a jerk, and point out her statement that “Our mission in space is not over” she told the hushed audience. “He was the first Israeli in space — that means there will be more.”” Her statement was about continuing onward, and not giving up when someone dies. We need to do that as a memorial to Ilian and Rona Ramon.