Ivan Albornoz Cobo

Ivan Cobo, a devoted husband and father, a talented engineer who studied the skies for both the U.S. Air Force and NASA, was born in Quito, Ecuador. Endowed with a keen mind and an insatiable appetite for knowledge and life, Ivan began his life-long adventure when he emigrated to the United States in 1957, and soon thereafter sent for the love of his life to join him. They married and together created a family of three daughters and their loving partners and families, including six grandkids.

Ivan’s career began in the United States Air Force where he served eight years and earned his engineering credentials. After an honorable discharge, he moved on to support the space flight and laser data tracking programs at NASA, cherishing every mission, every badge, every cold starry night standing on the platform of a telescope guiding a laser tracking system, every safe flight home for the astronauts. He retired in 1999 from his last duty station at Goddard’s Mobile Laser Tracking site in Greenbelt.

Ivan’s generosity and kindness resonated with everyone he met. He made friends easily and asked for nothing in return. But it was his family that grounded him and gave his life meaning. He took them on adventures wherever his work took him and they shared many wonderful experiences together, But mostly he taught his children the importance of love and kindness, service to others, and figuring things out for themselves.

Ivan was a resident of Bowie since 1981. He was preceded in death by his oldest daughter, Martha. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Lucy, and his daughters Lucia (Ben) of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Monica, of Miami, Florida, as well as his grandchildren and their families.