Harold John “Nick” Kirschner was born in Lowville, New York on April 9th, 1937. Nick grew up in Croghan, New York, the oldest of five children of Harold and Helen Kirschner. He was very hard-working from an early age; delivering newspapers, selling drinks and food at the local ballpark, whatever could help his family. He attended the Father Leo Memorial Catholic School until graduation in 1955. Nick attended Canton Tech (now SUNY – Canton University) and graduated with an AAS in Electrical Technology.

Nick met Linda Sweeney from Grieg, New York and they were wed in 1957. Children John, Bill and Dawn were born in 1958, 1959 and 1960 in Syracuse, New York. Nick had joined IBM and stayed for 35 years. Through IBM he supported the SAGE Air Defense System in Syracuse and Newburg, New York. From 1962 to 1970 the family moved every two years. These were the years where IBM meant “I’ve Been Moved”. From 1962 to 1964 the family lived in Minot, North Dakota where he supported the IBM bombing and navigation computers on the B-52 Stratofortress bomber. He would occasionally end up stuck on a bomber during a mission scramble for 24 hours. These were Chromedome missions during the Cold War where the B-52s carried nuclear weapons over the Arctic.

One of the jobs that he enjoyed was working on the Saturn V rocket in Huntsville, Alabama. IBM built the control system (the IBM ring) for the first stage of the rocket. It made sure the rocket stayed on course when one of engines faltered. Apollo 8 and Apollo 13 used the system to successfully achieve orbit. Leeanne, the last of the four children, was born at this time in 1964.

Next was Rome, New York, where the only green in town was the Holiday Inn sign. Nick went back to supporting the B-52 for two years. While in Rome he completed his BS from Syracuse University in Production Management. Then it was off to Fort Walton Beach, Florida on a then classified program during the Vietnam war called Igloo White. He made many trips to Thailand at that time on the border with Laos. The system became operational in late 1967, and it consisted of three elements: sensors dropped by aircraft along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, an orbiting aircraft that picked up and relayed signals from the sensors, and the Infiltration Surveillance Center (ISC), which received the data. Operated by Task Force Alpha at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base (NKP RTAFB), the ISC interpreted the sensor data and passed target information to combat commanders, who sent attack aircraft to the target. Nick managed an onsite IBM team at the base.

The family moved to the IBM facility that was in Gaithersburg, Maryland in 1968. Nick worked in in Gaithersburg until the end of his IBM career. He worked on a series of important programs during that time:

• Manager for 4 years on the Japanese Publishing System which created the first Kanji keyboard that allowed Japan to become digital
• Quality engineer for 2 years on the Hubble Space Telescope system
• Quality manager for 3 years on the ground control system for the GPS satellite navigation system
• Quality development manager for 12 years supporting the ground systems for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellites
• Senior manager on the new Air Traffic Control System

While in Gaithersburg, Nick completed his MSA in from George Washington University in Systems Management.

After his retirement from IBM Nick and Linda moved to Lake Heritage in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Nick tried substitute teaching but local middle and high schools were not as disciplined as Father Leo Memorial School. 😊 He ran a property inspection service for ten years of homes, businesses and farms for independent insurance companies.

Nick was nominated and selected for the Udvar Hazy Air & Space Museum Wall of Honor for his many contributions to aviation and space flight.

Nick never sat down at any time in his life. He was constantly moving. When not working he worked in the community in various roles.

He enjoyed fishing, golfing, boating, bowling, dancing and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus.

Nick is survived by three of his siblings, Carolyn, Robert (Brud) and Kathy. He is survived by three of his four children, John, Bill and Leeanne, seven grandchildren Ivy, Chris, Nick, Mike, Sophie, Wil and Faith. He also has two great grandchildren, Bobbie and Sam.

He was a very joyful and happy person at the end of his life and is remembered fondly by all he met.