Astronaut’s Wife Skier

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32349, 15 July 1970, Page 2

Astronaut’s Wife Skier

Mrs John Glenn, wife of the first American astronaut to orbit the earth, made a brief visit to Christchurch this week. She and her husband were returning from a ski ing holiday at Mount Cook and Queenstown. They hired a car and drove down the Haast Pass and on to Queenstown. “Marvellous country—we’ve had a wonderful holiday,” said Colonel Glenn. The couple were nine days in New Zealand, arriving in Auckland early last week after a flight to the opening of the new Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne. They spent the first few days skiing at Ruapehu.

“I’m not an expert skier, but I love it, and iceskating,” Mrs Glenn said. When her husband was asked about his ability on the slopes, he replied: “My instructor at Sun Valley says I have more guts than grace.” Slim, dark, vivacious, Mrs Glenn well remembers the strain of her husband's first space flight eight years ago, and admits to being very pleased when it was over. “My husband’s life has been dedicated to his country and he served in the Space Programme from 1959 to 1964.” she said. “Standing for nomination for the Senate was the next step.” An accident in 1964 which damaged his inner ear thwarted Colonel Glenn’s political ambitions in 1965. Last year he resigned as president of a soft drink company to stand for the Demo- • cratic Party nomination for a Senate seat in Ohio. He was unsuccessful in the primary elections and at present has no further political plans. Since his resignation from the National Aeronautics and I Space Administration tn 1964 I he has remained a consultant I for the agency. Mrs Glenn and her husband grew up in the same small town and she has known him all her life. They now live in Columbus, Ohio. “I cook—that is a hobby," she said. “Sew, but not as much as I would like to. Answer all the mail. And play the organ.” Playing the organ in

church had proved to be a good way to get to know people when her husband was moved to a new area. In 27 years of marriage Mrs Glenn has moved house 23 times.

They also have an organ at home, and Colonel Glenn likes to sing. Their children are now grown up. David, aged 24, has just graduated from college and joined the Navy for three-year service. Lyn, 23, is married and lives in Palo Alto, California. In spite of a slight stutter Mrs Glenn loves meeting people. She once took a speech therapy course to correct her stammer, "but I’m always too eager to talk to remember all the rules.”