Donald Bartlett Fay, Jr.

Donald Bartlett Fay, Jr., our favorite NASA Emeritus has gone on past the stars. He passed away peacefully on April, 30, 2025 surrounded by his beloved wife and daughters in Huntsville, Alabama. Born on September 10, 1942 in Panama City, Florida to Donald Bartlett Fay, Sr. and Gail Miley Fay, Bart was raised in Panama City and was a graduate of Bay High School, earning a degree in Electrical Engineering at The Georgia Institute of Technology. He received a Master of Science in Management degree from Florida Tech.

An avid amateur radio operator, he earned his Ham radio license at the age of twelve, and was involved in Ham Radio for decades, serving in local and national organizations to promote amateur radio. With call letters K4CEF, and later W4NS, he spoke to every location in the world at least twice. His other hobbies included travel, photography and scuba diving.

Professionally he worked on many space and technology projects such as the shaker testing system for the Saturn V rockets, a backup system for the Space Shuttle Program and Blackhawk Helicopter testing systems. In retirement, he volunteered as a docent at the Space and Rocket Center and was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He inspired in his family and friends a love of all things space-related, and we are so thankful for that and for his service to the Space Program.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandson Zachary Smith.

Bart is survived by his loving wife, Trudi Gardner Fay, daughters Susan Fay Flowers (Ed) of Bradenton, Florida; Cathy Fay McIntosh of Leesburg, Virginia; Pamela Gardner Smith (David) of Eagleville, Pennsylvania; and Wendi Gardner (Mike) of Chicago, Illinois. He is also survived by his brother George Fay (Pamela) of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and sister Cora Fay of Lady’s Island, South Carolina; as well as grandchildren Brian, Connor and Rachel McIntosh and special friends Tim and Marie Hynes.

A Visitation will be at 10:00am, with a Celebration of Life service to follow at 11:00am on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Legacy Chapel, 16 Hughes Road in Madison, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Education Foundation, One Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805, or online at rocketcenterfoundation.org.