Cash Shortage Plagues Widow of Astronaut

HOUSTON — The widow of the shuttle Challenger’s commander says she is short of money and has a leaky roof, a worn-out car and lives on cash that was set aside for her retirement.

But June Scobee says the families of the crew members killed in the Challenger explosion have helped one another through a difficult year.

Scobee took a leave of absence from her college teaching job last spring to work full time on establishing the Challenger Center as a memorial to her husband, Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, and the six others who died when the Challenger exploded on Jan. 28.

Now, she has had to turn to money originally saved for her retirement, Scobee told the Houston Chronicle.

“I could use some (money) right now,” said Scobee, 44. “My roof is leaking and my car needs to be repaired. Right now, I’m living on the money set aside for my retirement to take care of some of those needs. But, goodness, I’m much better off than many people are.”

Scobee said the families of the crew members are leaning on one another to get through the emotional problems that followed the disaster.

“I think you could almost say we (Challenger families) are all at about the same point emotionally,” she said. “It was the worst year you could imagine to get through. But we are getting along. Each one is managing financially. And they are working on the center.”

Scobee said she has no plans to file civil damage lawsuits in connection with the death of her husband. The Challenger crew members had signed waivers, freeing the government of any liability in the event of an accident.