IN MEMORIAM: Richard J. Kroll, 78;

Engineer On Apollo Moon Landing

RICHFIELD SPRINGS – Funeral services are planned this weekend for Richard J. Kroll, 78, an aeronautics engineer who worked on the first moon landing, who passed away Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, at his home on Route 28.

Calling hours will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 10, at J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Hom.  A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at St. Joseph the Worker in West Winfield, with Father Silvastar Sarihaddula officiating.

Richard “Dick” was born on May 7, 1940, on the family farm in Cullen, a son of the late Frank J and Eleanor Janiec Kroll. He was raised and educated in Richfield Springs, graduating from Richfield Springs High School, Class of 1959. After high school Dick attended Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne, obtaining a degree in Aeronautical Engineering

He began his career working with the design of airplanes, most notably the F-15 fighter jet, then joined Northrup Grumman, where he worked on the LEM (Lunar Excursion Module) Project associated with all Apollo mission lunar landings. The LEM transported the crew from lunar orbit to the moon and back to orbit; the most notable mission was Apollo 11 in 1969, when the U.S. landed the first man on the moon.

After starting his own family, Dick had a successful career working for the Central New York Psychiatric Center in Marcy as a secure hospital TA, from which he ultimately retired.

He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 1508, Richfield Springs. A devout Catholic, he was an active member of the Church of St. Joseph the Worker in West Winfield. He loved anything to do with aeronautics and in his spare time enjoyed building model airplanes, and being a war history buff studying military battles and aircraft.

He was a devoted father to his children and surviving him are two sons, Eric J. Kroll of Richfield Springs, and Richard G. Kroll and his wife Melonie of Kirkville; and two daughters, Diana F. Kroll of Utica, and Karen Gienau and her husband Timothy of Pawcatuck, Conn., seven grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Caroline Sarafin, with whom he was very close.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory with donations to St. Joseph the Worker Church, West Winfield. Envelopes will be available in the Funeral Home