Joe Husson:
CLASS OF 1958
Manual Training High SchoolClass of 1958
Brooklyn, NY
William Alexander Middle School 51 Class of 1955
Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn Public School 77Class of 1953
Brooklyn, NY
Saint Francis Xavier SchoolClass of 1949
Brooklyn, NY
Joe's Story
Life
Some of my Classmates are aware that I lost my son, Frank, in April 2012 and it was something I don't think I'll ever get over. He was 39 and for 30 years he suffered severe epilepsy with hours long seizures. I slept with him in his room for 30 years, sometimes on the floor, the couch, the ottoman etc. and we were so closely bonded that we shared the same soul and when he passed away I felt like I lost my soul along with my son, and I'm planning on dissolving my marriage as soon as I can get a lawyer working on it. The one joy I have left is my Corgi, named Willow who was in the house for 2-3 weeks before Frank passed away and if it wasn't for her I don't think I would ever smile or laugh again. As far as my marriage I want to end it as soon as I can (and you ladies, I'm not looking for a hookup) because it was over years ago and his mother used him as a pawn. I've come to terms that I wasted over 40 years of my life and I hope to move on for whatever days are left to me.
I remember a girl from PS77 who I used to walk to school with and I was told years ago that she had passed away at a young age. Her name was Joanne and she had a sister named Pat, they lived down 2nd street between 4th and 5th avenue. What 's bothering me is that I can't remember her last name and I guess at my age that's pretty common but I have her first name in my autograph book and back then we didn't usually sign our last names. If anyone out there knows of her I'd appreciate them letting me know.
One other thing I did was write a note to a classmate because her name was so familiar but I didn't get an answer back, I hope she didn't think I was trying to connect in a personal way, if It was offensive I didn't mean it to be.
I never made any big splash in school, went in the military after H.S., volunteered to go to viet nam but didn't get the assignment. Got a g good job with IBM after leaving the military, I met some wonderful ladies, did the dating routine like everybody else, go to Manhattan to a movie and go to a restaurant (Junior's, Purity's, Pappas) afterwards. I'm now retired after working 31 years at Kennedy Space Center where I've been heavily involved in most facets of the space program, mainly as a computer support engineer. It's been very rewarding but my main focus is taking care of and providing for my son who...Expand for more
has special needs due to a botched operation on him when he was an infant. He keeps me intensely busy but he is also very rewarding. Oh, and by the way, the "future astronaut" in the wheelchair in the photo is my son Frank. The other joys in my life are my two "rare gems, my 2 daughters Arlene and Kim. Arlene, the oldest is a professional Classical musician and Kim the younger one is a System Administrator for NASA at Kennedy Space Center. I consider myself very blessed to have these 3 children in my life. Their mother could do a little better by them, especially as far as our son Frank is concerned but that's another whole story in itself and is still ongoing; to steal a phrase from a Star Trek episode, "What of Lazarus?".
Workplace
My first job after the military was with IBM as a customer engineer where I maintained their line of typewriters and small electronic equipment. I then worked for Western Union where I did the same thing on teletypes and early computer systems. I next worked for Control Data where I repaired the larger computer systems and was a regional support engineer for the Selectric and Teletype I/O devices. Some of the best & worst things in my life happened when I was with Control Data-it was the most enjoyable job I had. I then spent 19 years with Digital Equipment Corp. which is where I spent most of my time in the space program, meeting, working and spending time with some very special people including some of the Astronauts. In my "spare" time I like to tinker with gadgets and have invented a couple of things that are very helpful to people with different disabilities. I use these for my son Frank who is confined to a wheelchair and they work very well with his needs. I've tried to talk to some commercial companies about manufacturing these items but haven't had any luck so far and if I can't get them on the market, I'll get the drawings onto the Internet to the whole world because there's so many people out there that really need these things.
I thought I might try to work a little longer to try to pay off the house mortgage so my son will have a place to live after I'm gone, which has always been a concern to me, but I had to stay home because his mother was incapable (terminal laziness) of taking care of him if I ended up working through the night for a launch or other testing.
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