L. Michael Grieco

L. (Louis) Michael Grieco, Rocket/Aeronautical Engineer passed away on June 28, 2013 . A life long native of White Plains; born on March 7, 1917. Son of Theresa Mercatante Grieco and George ; both originally from Naples, Italy. Michael was a graduate of White Plains High School in 1936. Michael married the love of his life, Carmelita Rita Grieco on October 10, 1942 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, White Plains, NY.; who predeceased him December 2010. After 1936 he graduated from Casey Jones Aeronautical Technical School working afterwards for Ford Motor Co. in Upsalanti, MI; making B24 combat aircraft at the start of WW II. He was transferred to Glen L. Martin Co. in Baltimore Md. while attending the University of Maryland at night. He was a member of the American Interplanetary Rocket Society. When WW II ended he went to work for Reaction Motors at the Pickatiny Arsenal in Boonton, N.J.; working on rocket components. While there he won a four year scholarship to Cooper Union in New York obtaining an ME in Engineering in 1955. Post graduation he worked for Republic Aviation Corp. and in 1958 for Grumman Aircraft Corp. in Bethpage, NY. Grumman won the contract from NASA to build the Lunar Module (LEM) for the Apollo program. His drawings for the LEM “feet” were chosen by NASA. When Apollo 13 had an explosion, the LEM was used as a “life boat” to get the Astronauts home. As a reward, the Astronauts visited Grumman airfield to thank all engineers working on the project who then signed a lightweight paper which was left on the moon by Apollo 14! L. Michael Grieco was a member of the Sons of Italy Antonio Meucci Lodge #213, the White Plains Historical Society and past member of both the Westchester and White Plains Coin Clubs. In addition to his wife of 68 years he is predeceased by 3 sisters and 2 brothers. He is survived by 2 sisters and 3 brothers, daughters Michelle Varnit (Joseph) and Charmaine Thomas (John), grandfather (Pop-Pop) to Michael (Shelly) and Beatrice Varnit and great-grandfather to Anthony Felice and Leila Carmelita Varnit. Memorial contributions in Michael's memory may be made to contributions in LM Grieco’s memory can be made to:

1) Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church-White Plains NY
2) Sacred Heart Church – Port Chester NY
3) EWTN or Billy Graham Evangelical Association