Pasquale Salvatore “Pat” Faini died on July 18 at the age of 95. He was born in Salem, Ohio and was the 5th surviving child of August Salvatore Faini and Carmella Marie Guappone. Pat had many careers including automotive mechanic, jet mechanic in the US Navy during the Korean War, plumber, construction foreman, and finally found his home in aeronautics. He was an expert marksman, serving as a guard for Harry Truman when he visited the naval base in Atlantic City. He attended Detroit University (graduating from Rollins College) and worked at Chrysler Missile in a cubicle next to some guy named “von Braun.” (Apparently Wernher’s brother). He joined GE Aerospace in Syracuse and later worked in Daytona Beach, Florida “sharpening pencils” (as he told his children) or perhaps creating documentation for the command module for the Apollo missions. He was critical of the decision to have an all-oxygen atmosphere in Apollo 1, and as a result, his desk and all of his belongings were seized after the tragedy. He thought he was being fired. He maintained he had devised a method to fit a round air filter in a square hole and was on the Apollo 13 after action team. After the Apollo missions ended, he worked for GE in Waynesboro, Virginia, before moving back to Daytona Beach and worked at GE/Martin Marietta for the remainder of his career.

He met his wife when he was 19 at a church dance and was married to Phyllis A. (Guido) Faini for 64 years before her death in 2020 and they had two children who survive him - Patti Faini and Pam Goldman and their husbands, Monty and Mark. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren: Alex, Dana and Spencer Billett and their spouses Megs, Mike Morris and Mary Ann Mason, respectively, and Luke and Kevin Goldman and Luke’s wife Lauren Schenck. He was delighted to know his great-grandchildren: Beanie, Sebby and Maggie and knew twins were due later this year. He loved golf, poker, scotch, and his large and extended family. Sadly, he never won the Faini bocce tournament. He is also survived by two brothers: George and Ray Faini and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and his wife, he was predeceased by his sister Rosemarie Zocco, and his brothers Pete, Larry (Louise), Vito (Wilma), Mario (Loie) and his sisters-in-law Balbina and Francis.

His interment will be at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, Florida on September 4 at 2:00 PM. If you would like to attend, please arrive at the gates by 1:45 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to the St. Paul School Foundation - 925 East State St, Salem Ohio 44460, www.stpaul.k12.oh.us and then click on the foundation tab, or make a donation or to the Salem High School Alumni Association, 330 East State St, Salem Ohio 44460, www.salemohioalumni.org