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Beloved Dadlet, Norman Lew Ingold, passed away on July 21, 2024, at the age of 90 in Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA.
Norm was born in Madison, Wisconsin on July 11, 1934. His second-grade teacher said he’d never amount to anything. He became a rocket scientist! With over 50 years’ practical expertise, he helped save the lives of the Apollo 13 astronauts by increasing the accuracy of the guidance systems for the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) from 200 miles to 3 miles. Norm retired as the Chief Scientist for CIGTF (Central Inertial and GPS Test Facility), the 746th Test Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, in 1996 after 31 years. He authored ten symposium papers and helped pioneer sled testing-sending a rocket on a sled down a track at beyond the speed of sound-including innovating reverse velocity sled tests. In 2009, he was asked back as a subject matter expert and consulted for the remainder of his life.
Norm always said, “learn everything about everything”. He studied at the University of Wisconsin, trained at The Army Language School in Monterey, California, and served in the Korean War. He spoke seven languages: English, Spanish, German, Norwegian, Japanese, Russian, and a little French. He studied geology, anthropology, physics (including both quantum mechanics and relativity), mathematics, linguistics, and chemistry. For his Master of Science in Physics at the American University in Washington, D.C., he invented the inner ear thermometer. He was undertaking a Physics PhD at the University of Arizona when he received the offer from Holloman in 1965. For fun he started the Alamogordo Science Fair, restored antique cars, and built a cabin in the mountains by hand-even incorporating the golden ratio into the bookshelves.
He was predeceased by his parents, Dee and Ethel, and the love of his life, his little flower, Katherine. She inspired him to join St. Jude Parish and serve on the board of the Father James B. Hay School. They shared adventures ranging from cruises to Alaska to see whales and the Caribbean where he discovered rum punch, to Burgh Island where Agatha Christie wrote the Poirot stories they loved so much.
He is lovingly survived by his daughter Maria Ingold of London, his stepdaughter Renee Hogue (Jay Gietl) of Denver, his sister Paula Graves (Russ) of San Diego, his niece Lindy Brazil (Roger) of San Diego, and his nephew Lee Exton (Gayle) of Huntington Beach. Maria always said he was best shared. His kindness and willingness to both listen and teach his knowledge and insights have touched the lives of many, who find themselves forever changed. He made the world a better place and we are eternally grateful for his light in our lives.
A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday the 10th of August, 2024, at St. Jude Church, 1404 College Avenue, Alamogordo, New Mexico, officiated by Father Marcel Okonkwo, Celebrant. Greetings will start at 10:30. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the St. Francis Cabrini Catholic School, the Roadrunner Food Bank, or the American Cancer Society.
The Ingold family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home to direct the services.
To sign the online register book, please visit www.alamogordofuneralhome.org.
