Ira was bron in New York City. He served in the US Army Air Corps during WW II and earned a masters Degree in Engineering from Lehigh University. He was a professor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and also worked on the Saturn and Apollo Programs at Kennedy Space Center. He is survived by his sons David and Steven Zechnowitz, daughter Kim Zechnowitz, brother Milton Zechnowitz, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.