Leonard Helped Put Man On Moon, And Just Turned 101 In Bergen County

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Leonard C. Pursiano has made 101 trips around the sun, and more than 50 years ago, he helped put man on the moon.

Pursiano born in the Bronx in 1922 to immigrant parents, and learned the value of hard work as a newspaper delivery boy. But he went on to affect many more lives as an electrical engineer who worked on the U.S. space program in the 1960s.

His family recently celebrated his 101st birthday at Longview at Christian Health Center, where he now lives. But he still owns a home in Ridgewood, where he lived starting in 1961.

His daughter, Linda Ferraro — one of his four children — recently celebrated with him. She told Patch, "He will tell you that the secret to his longevity is family [and] living life with purpose...combined with a lucky and strong dose of good genes."

Purpose, she said, for him has included "designing magnetic transformers, learning some new dance moves, mowing the lawn, playing bridge, studying Italian, learning to play the piano in his nineties, volunteering in the community as a Medicare Advisor and most recently, honing his cornhole and bingo skills."

She said, "He has tremendous will to live and does not take a day in his life for granted.. Every passing day we, as his family, are able to celebrate with him, is a gift to savor. Keep dancing and raising the bar, Dad!"

Pursiano's bio on the National Air and Space Museum website notes that he served in the Navy in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre in World War II and won several medals.

While working for Bendix Corp from 1949 to 1995, he became the chief magnetics design engineer, heading up "a group of 10 electrical engineers engaged in the design and development of magnetic
devices and components for space and avionics applications."

He was granted four patents for electromagnetic devices andwas awarded the Apollo Achievement Award from NAsA for his contribution to Man's First Landing on the Moon in summer 1969, among other honors.

Read more about Pursiano here.