The Post-Moon-Landing Challenges of Neil Armstrong and His Family

In 1955, Armstrong reached a pivotal milestone as he proudly earned his degree. The following year, another momentous chapter began with his marriage to his college sweetheart, Janet Shearon, in the crisp January of 1956. Their love story blossomed, and together they welcomed three children into their lives: Karen, Eric, and Mark.

However, a heart-wrenching tragedy cast a shadow over their happiness in the summer of 1961. It was then that the family received the devastating news of Karen’s diagnosis of brain cancer. The young girl, the middle child, fought valiantly, but tragically, her tender life was cut short at the dawn of 1962, just a few months shy of her third birthday.