Early life Roger B. Chaffee

1 life

1.1 boy scouts
1.2 education
1.3 family

early life

roger bruce chaffee born on february 15, 1935, in grand rapids, michigan, second child of donald lynn chaffee (an american citizen of lebanese descent) , blanche may (mike) chaffee née mosher. had older sister, donna, born 2 years earlier. in january 1935, in hometown of greenville, michigan, father diagnosed scarlet fever, , mike moved in parents in grand rapids, roger born. family spent next 7 years in greenville before moving grand rapids, father took job chief army ordnance inspector @ doehler-jarvis plant.

boy scouts

chaffee excelled boy scout, earning first merit badge @ age of thirteen. earned ten more badges year. many of these awards typically won older scouts. continued success obtaining 4 additional badges @ age of fourteen. won 4 badges each of next 2 years, , had earned badges available @ time. after becoming eagle scout, managed earn ten merit badges, awarded bronze , gold palms.

education

chaffee attended dickinson school in grand rapids. graduated in top fifth of class central high school in 1953. turning down possible appointment united states naval academy @ annapolis, maryland, accepted naval reserve officers training corps (nrotc) scholarship, , in september 1953 enrolled @ illinois institute of technology. performed well, making dean s list , finishing b+ average. while enrolled, joined phi kappa sigma.

chaffee passionate flying, , had strong aptitude science , engineering. apply talents, transferred purdue university in autumn of 1954 attend school s well-known aeronautical engineering program. prior arrival in west lafayette, reported 8-week tour on uss wisconsin part of nrotc program. qualify, had finish training , pass additional tests. failed eye exam, physician allowed him retake test next morning, , passed. allowed tour on wisconsin england, scotland, france, , cuba. upon return american soil, worked gear cutter.

upon starting classes @ purdue, chaffee sought out job complement coursework , involvement in phi kappa sigma social fraternity. first job during sophomore year working server @ 1 of women s residences, disliked job , sought new employment. hired draftsman @ local small business near purdue. junior, hired teaching assistant in mathematics department teach classes freshman students. joined tau beta pi , sigma gamma tau engineering honor societies.

while @ purdue, chaffee took flight training part of nrotc program prepare himself career naval aviator, soloing on march 29, 1957, , obtaining private pilot s license on may 24, 1957. earned bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering @ purdue in 1957.

family

chaffee married martha louise horn in oklahoma city on august 24, 1957; had met on blind date in september 1955. martha homemaker. couple had 2 children, sheryl lyn (born in 1958) , stephen (born in 1961).