Starr Truscott Jr., 79, Former NASA Employee

Born March 11, 1928 in Washington DC, he had lived in Birmingham since 1951. He worked for 29 years for NACA, the agency that became NASA. He was one of the first employees at NASA Plumbrook.

He was a veteran of the US Army and a graduate of the University of North Carolina.

He was the first chairman and served on the Erie Metro Park Board and served 33 years from 1968 - 2001, and Florence Township Zoning Commission from 1956 to 1975. He helped establish the Erie Regional Planning Commission in 1963, and served as its president from 1965-1967. He was instrumental in the acquisition of the Osborn property from the State of Ohio for Erie County. During his tenure, Erie MetroParks grew from an unfunded body that managed a property to a park system with 1905 acres in ten parks.

The Starr family settled in Birmingham in 1817, establishing a mill on the Vermilion River adjacent to the present Schoepfle Arboretum. Starr co-authored the book, "Birmingham of Yesterday" with Otto Schoepfle. He enjoyed travel and was an avid reader. He believed deeply in the value of the natural world as essential and renewing to our lives, and in our responsibility to apply our intelligence, optimism, and spirit to the lives of future generations.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Estelle (nee Deuell) ; 4 daughters, Pam Byrne, Knoxville, Maryland, Gail Truscott, Oberlin, Page Wichman, Westlake and Helen Sedoris Miller, Grandview Hts. Ohio; 4 grandchildren; a brother, Francis Drake Truscott, Glenwood, IL. He was preceded by his parents, Starr and Katharine (nee Morse) Truscott; and 2 sisters, Noel Mason, and Nancy Diehl.

Friends may call Saturday, Sept. 8 from 10:30 a.m. until the time of a memorial service at 12:30 p.m. at the Riddle Funeral Home, 5345 South Street, Vermilion. The Reverend Carol Rettew of the Bay Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Interment will follow at the Birmingham Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Erie Metro Parks, 3109 Hull Road Huron, OH 44839.

Online condolences may be made at www.riddlefuneralhome.com.