Teacher’s Family Thanks Americans for Sympathy

The husband and children of teacher Christa McAuliffe, who was killed Tuesday in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger, today thanked people around the country for their sympathy.

“My children and I are very aware of the tremendous outpouring of grief and support across America,” Steven McAuliffe said in a statement delivered by a partner in McAuliffe’s Concord law firm.

“We wish to thank you all and hope you can understand our need for these private moments.

“We have all lost Christa. We thank you for respecting our privacy and for sharing our grief.

‘Love and Sorrow’

“We wish we could comfort all of you as you have comforted each of us. To the families of the other crew members, we send our love and share their sorrow.”

McAuliffe and his two children, Scott, 9, and Caroline 6, have been in seclusion since the explosion. The senior partner in McAuliffe’s firm, Christopher Gallagher, said McAuliffe drafted the statement with two other members of the firm who are with him in Florida and relayed it to the Concord office.

McAuliffe said he will have no further statements for the time being.

Meanwhile today, President Reagan sent his message that “life has to go on and so does the space program” to students at Concord High School where Christa McAuliffe taught.

Message From Reagan

The White House said a written message sent by Reagan to the students will be read in a student assembly Friday. The White House is not planning to release the text, spokesman Larry Speakes said.

“We have been in consultation with the principal of the high school, and there is a desire that we, as well as others, let them handle their matters themselves,” Speakes said.