The first American woman in space, Sally Ride, was laid to rest at the Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum, and Mortuary in Santa Monica on Monday, Aug. 6. It was a small private gathering for family and friends.
Ride passed away on July 23 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
She joined NASA in 1978 and, at the age of 32, became the first American woman to enter into low Earth orbit in 1983.
In 1987, she left NASA to work at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Arms Control. She served on the investigation panels for two space shuttle disasters, Challenger and Columbia, the only person to serve on both. Ride remains the youngest American astronaut to be launched into space.
Mayor Richard Bloom said the City of Santa Monica was honored the family chose Santa Monica as Ride’s final resting place.
“As the first American woman in space, she broke through barriers and inspired the nation by her courage as an astronaut and by her commitment to educating future generations. The community will forever treasure our National hero,” Bloom said.
Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum and Mortuary is owned and operated by the City of Santa Monica, which is located at 1847 14th Street across the street from Santa Monica College.
