Anthony Joseph Pierro Sr.

He was born February 12 1931, in Ambridge, PA, son of the late Joseph and Antionetta (Muscillo) Pierro.

He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Wanda L. (Clingerman) Pierro; a son, Anthony J. Pierro, Jr., and wife Connie of Columbia, MD; three grandchildren: Laurie Prozeller of Columbia, MD; Kelly, (Larry) Stoner, Glen Burnie, MD; and Bobby, (Richa) of Columbia, MD; two step grandchildren: Lee Niven, Arvada, CO, and AJ Niven, Denton, TX. He has ten great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He is survived by two sisters, Rosamarie Celozzi and Kathryn Catterton, both of Bel Air, MD, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews in the Baltimore MD, area, and a step-daughter, Marsha (Gary) Timmons, McKinney, TX.

He was preceded in death by his first wife of 38 years, Anna Delores (Powell) Pierro; three brothers, Ronald, William, and Joseph; two brothers-in-law, Frank Catterton and Ronald Celozzi, and a nephew, Ronald Catterton.

From age seven until drafted into the US Army, he attended school in Baltimore, MD and in Hartford, CT. He was drafted into the US Army in July 1952. While in the Army, he served in Korea, assigned to CO “A” 765th Trans Railway Shop as a Machinist. He received the following: Korean Service Medal W/2 Bronze Service Star; National Defense Service Medal; and United Nations Service Medal. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal in May 1954.

Most of his employment career was with NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. As part of the space pioneer program, his career started with the IMP program that consisted of eleven satellites that began with IMP A. These satellites were designed and built to conduct data and space radiation in support of the space program. IMP D and IMP E were launched into the orbit of the moon. He also worked with the SMM (Solar Maximum Monitoring) spacecraft, a solar satellite built to investigate solar phenomenon, particularly solar flares. As a spacecraft technician, he was instrumental in fabricating tools and tool boxes for astronauts on many of the Shuttle flights. The last project he worked on was with the Hubble Space Telescope from conception to launch which was STS 3, the launch. He retired from NASA at GSFC in August 1987. Following retirement, he continued to work with an on-site contractor (ManTech) working on the Hubble Space Telescope’s first and second repair mission. Following seven years employment with ManTech, he retired a second time in 1994. It was said that “he liked retirement parties”, so he continued to do consultant work with Genesis Engineering, an on-site contractor at NASA/GSFC for two more years, leaving the workforce in 1996. Tony truly enjoyed his work and found it rewarding.

Tony was a talented and gifted man. His hobby was “making sawdust.” He handcrafted many things such as a jewelry cabinet, bookcases in four different homes they lived in, a murphy bed, and completely remodeled three homes, all the while doing the electrical, plumbing and any carpentry work required.

Tony loved to travel and had a love for food and even enjoyed cooking (Shrimp Scampi his specialty). He was a quiet and humble man and never knew a stranger. He was loving and compassionate and devoted to Wanda and his Faith. There was no one like Tony and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

During the seven years he lived in Cocoa Beach, FL, he volunteered at the Cape Canaveral Hospital for several years transporting patients after having “out-patient” surgery. In April 2020, he and Wanda moved to Frisco, TX, to be closer to family.

He recently became a member of the Lebanon Baptist Church, Frisco, TX. Prior to moving to TX, he was active in several other churches where he resided. First Baptist, Cocoa, FL; Riverside Presbyterian, Cocoa beach, FL (served as one of the “super chefs”); Georgetown Presbyterian Georgetown, DE (served on the Properties Committee); Rolling Hills Baptist, Clarksville, MD (served on the Property/Grounds Committee); Greenbelt Baptist, Greenbelt, MD (volunteered on several carpentry upgrade projects).

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to your local Salvation Army.

Funeral arrangements are by Stonebriar Funeral Home, Frisco, TX. Private burial will be at a later time and place.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonebriarfh.com for the Pierro family.