Joseph L. Conlon, 85, worked on lunar lander
August 17, 2023
Joseph Leo Conlon of Murrells Inlet, who worked on the Apollo lunar lander, died Aug. 1. He was 85.
He was born Jan. 2, 1938, in Flushing, N.Y., the son of Raymond Conlon and Mary Cooper Conlon. He attended the Flushing, Queens, school district and Wilson Vocational School before moving to Babylon, Long Island, at age 15 and graduating from Babylon High School in 1956. He served four years in the Navy. He married the former Anna Marie Vesce on Aug. 25, 1963.
Mr. Conlon spent his professional career at Grumman Aerospace Corp. and was hand selected among a small group of people to work on the Apollo program at NASA. Grumman was the chief contractor on the lunar module, building 13. Mr. Conlon was chief manager in his department and contributed to projects that continue to contribute to global security and human discovery.
He retired in 1994 after 36 years and moved to Little River. In 2006, he moved to Seasons at Prince Creek.
He was a parishioner at St. Michael Catholic Church.
Mr. Conlon was remembered as a man of principles and integrity, high morals and strong work ethic. He was adventurous and funny. He enjoyed golf, the beach, casino trips, parties, riding his bike, walking and being with his family. He loved helping people in need.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Mary Conlon Agapito (Dennis) of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., and Laura Conlon Kosturi (Tony) of Chapel Hill, N.C.; his grandchildren, Andrew Kosturi and Mira Kosturi; his sister, Barbara Conlon Forbes of Chandler, Ariz.; his sisters-in-law, Madeline Sallop of Sunrise, Fla., and Dorothy Dolce of St. John’s, Fla.; as well as several nieces, nephews and extended family members.
His brothers, Roger Conlon and Ronald Conlon, died before him.
Funeral services will be private.
Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.
