Ashtronaut Tribute: Jeffrey Stocker
Honoring Jeffrey’s Journey to the Stars
As part of our Ashes to Space mission, we spotlight the lives and legacies of those who orbit with us—our Ashtronauts. Each tribute is submitted by loved ones who share a story, photos, and the spirit of someone worth remembering.
Today, we honor: Jeffrey Stocker
📍 From: Northfield NJ; West Palm, Naples & Inverness FL; Lake Havasu AZ; Berlin NH
🧑🤝🧑 Shared by: Susan Stocker, Wife
These stories remind us why this mission matters—not just for space exploration, but for love, remembrance, and connection.
From the Land & the Sea to the Stars
In Their Loved One’s Words:
My husband, Jeffrey Stocker, grew up in Berlin New Hampshire, and had an unrelenting passion for flight from a young age.
His fascination led him to Mr. Carmeno A Onofrio, a pilot famous for landing on Mt. Washington, at the city airport. Mr. Onofrio saw his love of airplanes & offered Jeff the opportunity to learn aircraft repair as a teenager. With unwavering enthusiasm, Jeff accepted and dedicated himself to his craft, spending countless hours after school and on weekends. The moon landings fueled his passion, and he became captivated by space travel.
Although a congenital heart defect prevented him from becoming an astronaut or pilot, Jeff channeled his passion into schooling; becoming a master mechanic and red seal engineer. He also became a master diver, exploring the depths of the oceans, marveling at the seascapes and the creatures within. His love for speed led him to own and build muscle cars, trucks and motorcycles, but his affection for aircraft and spacecraft never wavered.
He loved his family as much as he loved flight, and was a great husband, father & grandfather. Because of his caring heart and great sense of humor, he never met a stranger.
Jeff was dedicated to his profession, so I made sure to find time for his passions. We never missed an airshow in our area and watched numerous rocket launches in Florida. Witnessing them soar across the sky, Jeff’s eyes would sparkle with delight, and I knew he longed to be part of the journey.
Sadly, I lost Jeff to cancer in August of 2024, but I am overjoyed to fulfill his lifelong dream of launching into space & resting among the stars.
🖼️ Tribute Gallery – Jeffrey Stocker
🌌 A Journey Beyond Earth
A portion of Jeffrey’s ashes will be launched to space aboard our upcoming mission, where they will orbit Earth as part of a lasting celestial tribute.
Whether stargazing from home or tracking the spacecraft through the app, Jeffrey’s loved ones will be able to follow the journey—knowing that their story is quite literally written in the stars.
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