Materials Engineer
She was an optimistic person who viewed every day as an adventure and living life to the fullest.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
Eleanor Vadala (EV) was born in southern New Jersey. Her family moved to southwest Philadelphia when she was young.
Wanting to do everything her older brother could accomplish, EV tried to climb the same tree – or succeed in any other adventure – initiated by her brother.
EDUCATION
Always a dedicated student, EV graduated at the top of her class from a public high school in Philadelphia, before earning a college degree in nutrition and taking additional university classes in chemistry.
CHILDHOOD INTERESTS LED TO A CAREER PATH
Curious, energetic and fearless as a child, EV developed early interests in science, astronomy and flight. But, as a young adult pondering a career path who enjoyed baking and cooking in the family kitchen, EV first considered becoming a nutritionist – a person who advises others on matters of food and nutrition and their impacts on health.
Despite focusing many college courses on nutrition education, EV never abandoned her love of science. So, she changed her career path to study chemistry by taking a few college level courses to better understand whether this was a field she wished to pursue.
Needing to earn money to support herself financially, EV found work as a quality control inspector at an aircraft parts manufacturing facility, where she dedicated herself to learning the important physical details of the materials she was inspecting.
Before ‘Materials Engineer’ required a specialized education degree, EV essentially taught herself through asking questions and reading engineering textbooks.
MATERIALS ENGINEERING
As a materials engineer at the Naval Air Development Center in south Philadelphia and later in its Warminster suburb, EV did trailblazing research and development on aramid, polyester and other lightweight materials to be used in aircraft including balloons for human use,
EV became an expert on the Navy’s new computerized testing equipment and a member of a U.S. watch team that monitored Russian space vehicles.
CHALLENGE – RISKING YOUR OWN LIFE TO TEST MATERIALS TO BE RELIED UPON BY OTHERS
While testing materials she concluded were sufficiently strong and durable to support human flight, EV became interested in the sport of ‘ballooning,’ courageously staying aloft in a hot air balloon for her first flight, which covered 75 miles as its path flowed from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, across the Delaware River to Netcong, New Jersey.
Recalled EV about her first balloon experience, “We came down very slowly. It was almost like the balloon caressed the ground…. I was so entranced by the sheer beauty of it. We were wafting in like a snowflake.”
EV became the third woman to earn a balloon pilot’s certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and was eventually inducted into the U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame.
She was part-owner of her own hot air balloon, trained aspiring pilots and ground crews and lectured about ballooning and astronomy at schools, festivals and elsewhere. ”Her lifelong love of learning led her to constantly try and then excel and many new things,” said an admiring grandniece.
CAREER SATISFACTION
Combining her interests in the safety of materials to be used by others with her hobbies in astronomy and outer space, EV served as an officer of the Rittenhouse Astronomy Society and helped astronomer Edwin Bailey develop the Franklin Institute’s popular Fels Planetarium.
At her induction into the ballooning hall of fame, EV said, “As one balloonist to another… enjoy the fact that you can fly. You’re free. You’re riding the wind. That’s a wonderful thing…. I wish each and every balloonist fair skies, gentle winds and always a safe and happy landing.”
EV’s early and continuing study of materials gave her the confidence to fly high while depending on the security of her balloon materials. Her personal research and materials testing could then be safely relied upon by others.
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This career story was based on an obituary written by Gary Miles, published by the Philadelphia Inquirer on August 17, 2023.
