Nathaniel “Nate” Zelazo, the founder and chairman emeritus of Milwaukee-based Astronautics Corporation of America, died last week at the age of 100, the company announced today.
Astronautics designs, develops and manufactures avionics equipment and systems for the commercial and military aerospace industry, for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. It provides key avionics and connectivity systems to the industry’s largest original equipment manufacturers. The company includes the subsidiary Kearfott Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey.
Zelazo and Norma Paige founded the company in May 1959. They grew it from a one-room storefront to one of the largest engineering and manufacturing companies in Wisconsin.
A memorial service honoring Zelazo’s life and accomplishments will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. at Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, 2020 West Brown Deer Road in River Hills. The service will be open to the public. Memorial gifts in Nate’s memory may be made to the Milwaukee School of Engineering and Marquette University School of Engineering.
