Honor Prompts Visit from Rep. David Price
Fred DeJarnette, a SearStone, resident and semi-retired professor at N.C. State University, has received a Commendation of Excellence Award from NASA for his great leadership
and excellence in aeronautics and space exploration. Although the award was announced in January, U.S. Rep. David Price paid a special visit to SearStone on March 12 to officially recognize DeJarnette.
After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Georgia Tech in the 1950s, followed by a stint in the army, DeJarnette earned his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in 1965 and worked as a civil service employee at NASA. He later joined the faculty at N.C. State’s Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, where he has taught for 45 years.
Among his many accomplishments at the university, and while serving as a consultant to NASA, are working on the technology that was used for the Mars Exploration Rover Project, and doing the re-entry calculations for the space shuttle’s heat shield as it re-entered Earth’s atmosphere. He has also prepared many students for careers at NASA.
“It’s an honor to have Representative Price come by to congratulate me on this award,” said DeJarnette. “I’ve worked closely with him to lobby Congress for more funding for the space program, and I know he is a great advocate for technology and space advancements.”
Fred DeJarnette’s work has led him around the world with his wife of 61 years, Nadene, but he is now happily settled in at SearStone. The couple has two daughters (one in Raleigh and one in Wilmington), two grandkids and one great-granddaughter.
“The residents and staff of SearStone are extremely proud of Fred for receiving this award,” said Executive Director Chris Romick. “He and Nadene exemplify the accomplished and active seniors that make our community such a great place to live.”
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About SearStone
SearStone is a continuing care retirement community located at the southeast corner of High House Road and Davis Drive in Cary. The community is not-for-profit and offers several different home styles for independent residents 62 years and older. SearStone gives residents exclusive access to long-term-care services such as home health care, assisted living and nursing care. SearStone has been mentioned in numerous national publications such as The New York Times and is currently accepting deposits for membership. For more information, visit www.searstone.com, call 1-866-843-7534 or attend one of our events.