Marilyn Lovell, the wife of Captain James A. Lovell Jr. who commanded the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, died on August 27th at the age of 93. Marilyn was known for her stoic demeanor and internal struggle, which represented the emotional challenges faced by the wives of astronauts. The Wenban Funeral Home in Lake Forest, Illinois, confirmed her passing, although the cause of death was not disclosed. Prior to her husband’s involvement in the space program, Marilyn had already experienced the challenges of military life, accompanying Captain Lovell on his assignments as a naval pilot and instructor. Her husband’s career change to become an astronaut in 1962 left her to handle the upbringing and discipline of their four children, while also enduring sexist media coverage. Like other astronaut wives, Marilyn placed her husband’s dream of space travel above everything else, even concealing her pregnancy for four months to prevent him from being removed from mission consideration. Captain Lovell would find ways to remind her of his presence in space, such as sending her a mink coat with a card inscribed, “To Marilyn – from the Man in the Moon,” and naming a lunar mountain Mount Marilyn. A few months before the Apollo 13 launch, he took her to watch the movie “Marooned,” which featured a plot similar to the mission’s potential disaster. Marilyn had her own superstitions, including her fear of the number 13 and the loss of her wedding ring down the drain the day before the launch. Despite her concerns, Marilyn kept these worries to herself, as it was an unspoken rule among astronaut wives not to discuss anything that might concern their husbands prior to a mission. The Apollo 13 mission, which launched on April 11, 1970, did not receive as much media attention as previous space missions. However, on April 13th, Mrs. Lovell received a shocking call from a friend at NASA, informing her of an explosion that had occurred. For the next four days, the world anxiously watched as NASA worked to save the astronauts, while Marilyn maintained a brave public face while privately praying and contemplating life as a single mother. Thankfully, the astronauts safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 17, 1970. The events of the mission were later depicted in the popular film “Apollo 13” in 1995, with Tom Hanks portraying Captain Lovell and Kathleen Quinlan nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Marilyn Lovell. Marilyn Lovell, born as Marilyn Lillie Gerlach in Milwaukee on July 11, 1930, was the youngest of five siblings. Her father owned a candy store, and she would sometimes sneak into the store window to eat chocolate bunnies. She met James Lovell when she was a freshman in high school, and their relationship continued throughout their education. After James graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and they were married in 1952, Marilyn supported her husband’s career while raising their family and being actively involved in the Astronaut Wives Club. However, after the Apollo 13 incident, she encouraged her husband not to travel into space again. Captain Lovell transitioned to a career in the telecommunications industry and running a restaurant near Chicago. Marilyn Lovell’s death marks the end of a remarkable partnership that withstood the pressures of spaceflight, as she always held onto hope that her husband would return safely from his missions.
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