Tireless spaceport supporter dies at 86

I first met Len Sugerman eight months ago. He was being recognized at one of many events in the past year related to the development of the Southwest Regional Spaceport for his work to keep the spaceport dream alive.

At every event I’ve attended since, he was also recognized.

Sugerman died Thursday at his home in Las Cruces at the age of 86. The cause of his death was not released.

A commemorative plaque in his honor will be carried on the first rocket launched from the spaceport by UP Aerospace next month.

Sugerman, a retired Air Force colonel, joined the staff of New Mexico State University’s Physical Science Laboratory in 1977. In the Air Force he worked in missile development. At the PSL he participated in rocket and missile launches.

As a community volunteer, he worked on preparing youths for high-tech careers and promoting economic development in Southern New Mexico. He co-founded the High-Tech Consortium of Southern New Mexico and the Southwest Space Task Force.

He pushed and pushed and pushed to keep the dream of a spaceport in Southern New Mexico alive, even when the dream seemed dead.

The Space Grant Consortium’s building at NMSU was named for Sugerman in 2004. (He’s pictured above at the ceremony with Congressman Steve Pearce and then-NMSU Regent Jim Manatt.) The X Prize Foundation recently opened an office in the building.

It’s sad that he died weeks before a chance to see the first rocket launch from the spaceport. I’m glad he’ll be recognized on that launch.

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