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Louis Diodoro, 88, aeronautical engineer for General Electric

He worked on the Apollo and Gemini space programs.

Louis Diodoro
Louis DiodoroRead more

MANY PEOPLE look at the moon and think, isn't that pretty. Louis Diodoro looked at the moon and said, "Let's go there!"

Louis was an aeronautical engineer with General Electric for nearly 30 years, working on many key aspects of America's space exploration.

His department designed and built the nose cones for the rockets that, in 1961, first sent a chimp into space, and then in July 1969 - the culmination of an aeronautical engineer's dream- sent Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to walk on the moon in the Apollo 11 program.

Louis had a reputation for dedication to his work in the Apollo and Gemini space programs. His department also designed the cameras that took the first views of Earth from space. Louis flew to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, to personally retrieve the priceless film cannisters.

Louis Diodoro, a man of many talents and interests, from gardening to music to Phillies baseball, an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, and devoted family man, died April 18. He was 88, and lived in Boca Raton, Fla., but formerly lived in Philadelphia and Broomall, Delaware County.

Louis was a talented accordion player. Every night for years, the family would get together for a songfest with Louis at the accordion. He also played in a band on weekends.

In fact, Louis met his future wife, Gloria Lallone, when both were studying the accordion. They were married in 1950. His wife did not stay with the instrument, but he did. He also taught the accordion.

"He excelled at everything and had a huge, giving heart, which he shared with all," said his son, Louis.

Louis was born in Philadelphia to Dominic and Florence Diodoro. He graduated from Overbrook High School, where he played baseball.

He entered the Army Air Corps in 1944 and served as a waist gunner on B-17 and B-24 bombers. He never talked much about his service, but the family knows he was stationed on the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific for a time.

After his discharge, he entered Drexel University on a baseball scholarship. He remained a devoted Phillies fan his entire life and often got to the stadiums to watch games.

He began work at General Electric after graduating from Drexel.

Louis had a passion for gardening, and "loved digging in the ground and watching things grow," his son said.

Louis seemed to have the heart of a teacher. "He enjoyed sharing his knowledge of the world, and he had a knack for making it fun," his son said.

Besides his wife and son, he is survived by a daughter, Lynne Nicossia, and six grandchildren.

Services: Were April 23.

Donations may be made to TrustBridge Health, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407.