Do you remember Willy Ley (1906-1969)?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the life and legacy of Willy Ley, a science writer known for his work on rocketry and space travel. Participants share personal memories, reflections on his contributions to science communication, and recent news regarding the discovery of his ashes.

Discussion Character

  • Historical
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant recalls reading Ley's work in the 1960s and mentions his planned attendance at the Apollo 11 launch.
  • Another participant questions how Ley's ashes ended up in a co-op basement, indicating a lack of clarity on the circumstances.
  • A participant speculates that a deceased relative of Ley may have lived or worked in the co-op, contributing to the mystery of the ashes' location.
  • One participant shares a recent visit to a museum where Ley's books were featured, highlighting his enduring influence.
  • Another participant reflects on the impact of Ley's books and illustrations on their childhood imagination during the 1970s.
  • A different participant mentions other childhood books that influenced them, indicating a broader context of science literature from that era.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share positive sentiments about Willy Ley's contributions and express nostalgia for his work, but there is no consensus on the specifics of how his ashes ended up in the co-op basement.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about familial connections and the passage of time since Ley's death, which remain unresolved.

jtbell
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He was a science writer who focused on rocketry and space travel. I remember reading some of his stuff when I was a kid in the 1960s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willy_Ley

He died in Queens, NY, a few weeks before he was scheduled to be NASA's guest in Houston for the Apollo 11 launch. Recently a canister containing his ashes turned up in the basement of a Manhattan co-op. The president of the co-op's board is now on a mission to send them into space.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/nyregion/willy-ley-rocket-ashes.html
 
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So far, it appears to be a mystery. Maybe one of his now-deceased relatives lived there, or knew someone who lived there, or worked there. 56 years is a long time.
 
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I visited the Space & Rocketry Museum in Huntsville, Alabama today and saw some of Ley’s books in an exhibit.

IMG_6288.webp

IMG_6290.webp
 
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His books and illustrations made a great contribution to my imagination as a child of the 1970s.
 
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I remember those books as well as the Colby books and my favorite, the Zim Golden Nature Guides on Rocks and Minerals, Stars, Weather, Geology, Trees, Birds, Reptiles & Amphibians, Dinosaurs, Sky Observers Guide…


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Guide
 
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