Earl J. Baum

Earl J. Baum, age 61, passed away on October 10, 2023, in Houston, Texas. He was born on January 11, 1962. Son of a sailor, Earl was born in Nicosia, Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea. The youngest of four children, two brothers: Alan and Ken and sister: Ann. Earl’s father, Ken Baum, was a career Navy man which provided a great deal of relocation opportunities for the family. The family lived in Naples, Italy, Suitland, Maryland, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (while dad was in the Republic of Vietnam), Honolulu, Hawaii, Pensacola, Florida, Cristobel Republic of Panama and finally Houston, Texas.

Earl started his final three years of high school at Mary Brantley Smiley High School in Northeast Houston where Earl’s dad taught school. He started college in Austin, Texas, only to be interrupted to join the United States Navy. Once out, Earl completed his first degree in mathematics at San Jacinto College in Pasadena. Earl’s four-year degree was a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.

Earl joined the U.S. Navy in 1981 at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Chicago, Illinois. Earl had to complete a series of rigorous training requirements to qualify to be an Electronic Technician. Earl went on to study Basic Electricity and Electronics, Electronics Technician-A school all while stationed at Great Lakes Training Center. Earl had additional training in Naval Nuclear Reactors in Orlando, Florida and was transferred to Sandiego, California, and then had additional training for Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN) and AIMS Mark XII Identification Friend or Foe (IFF). Upon successful completion of the training, Earl was immediately dispatched to the fleet in San Diego, California 32nd Street Pier aboard United States Ship (USS) Fast Frigate Guided Missles-27 (FFG-27), the USS Mahlon S. Tisdale.

After the Navy, Earl spent 30 years at NASA Johnson Space Center Mission Control in support of Human Spaceflight. His first duty at NASA was as an Electronic Technician supporting the large screen displays in the Mission Control Flight Control Room. After finishing his first degree, Earl was promoted to the Operations Team in the Trajectory Division in support of Dynamic Flight Operations whereby a team of flight controllers performed Space Shuttle Launch, On-Orbit, Rendezvous, and Landing operations. After seven years in Trajectory Operations, Earl was again promoted to the Facility Operations Management team for the Mission Control Center and stayed there three years until he was promoted again to Voice/Video Operations Manager in support of Space Shuttle and International Space Station Operations. Earl was again promoted to support the International Space Station Partners for the Ground System Support Team and NASA Network Operations Team. Earl’s last promotion was to Program Manager for International Space Station Operations for Honeywell Technical Services Incorporated for International Space Stations operations.

Earl started early with community service. While beginning his naval career, Earl volunteered to visit and entertain chronically ill children in local Chicago hospitals with the Navy Project White Hat team. While with his NASA career, Earl worked several projects under United Way and the U.S. Savings Bond drive. Earl also worked on the Ed White Youth Center Board of Directors and helped start the Charter school of the same name. Earl was a member in good standing of the Space Center Rotary club, and recently with the St. Edwards Knights of Columbus.

Earl and Debbie were members of the Seabrook United Methodist Church, the Clear Creek Community Church, and after Debbie’s passing, Earl returned to his childhood upbringing and joined St. Edwards Catholic Church in Spring, Texas.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Ken and Shirley Baum, and his wife Debra Baum. He is survived by his children, Ashley Baum Baker and Jesse Baum; grandchildren, Madison Baker, Kennedy Baker and Taylor Baker, Ryan and Ethan Moody; siblings, Alan Baum of Springfield, Massachusetts, Ann Baum of Shenandoah, Texas and Ken Baum of Pittsburg, Texas; Aunts and uncle, Marylou Luttens of Des Moines, Iowa, Carol Baum of Des Moines and David Baum of Des Moines.

In lieu of flowers, Earl personally requested that donations and contributions be made to the following charities: Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org), Rotary Foundation/International, Knights of Columbus and Scleroderma Foundation.